Khamzat Chimaev is currently preparing for what is arguably the most significant fight of his career. Since his impressive debut in the UFC, he has been marked as a fighter destined for the top ranks.
The undefeated star is set to challenge Dricus du Plessis for a title on August 16 at UFC 319 in Chicago. His training camp in the United States appears to be progressing well, seemingly having overcome various setbacks that have hindered him previously.
At 31 years old, it seems he has finally reached the elite level expected of him years ago. However, this peak might be short-lived, according to a fellow UFC fighter.
Caio Borralho suggests Khamzat Chimaev might retire if he wins at UFC 319, citing rumors
In a recent interview with MMA Today, Caio Borralho, who has trained with Chimaev in the past, made a surprising statement about Khamzat Chimaev`s future. Borralho himself is potentially lining up for a title shot if he can defeat Nassourdine Imavov in September.
Borralho claimed during the interview that he has heard “rumors” and “whispers” suggesting the middleweight title challenger is considering retiring should he be successful on August 16.
“I heard somewhere, some people saying that if he wins the belt, he’s gonna retire. I think so. There’s some little talks, some whispers about that. That if he wins the belt, he retires. I’m not sure of that. I don’t know if I believe that or not but it’s an option.”
Borralho elaborated on potential reasons why Chimaev might consider such a shocking retirement at this stage of his career:
“There’s too much pressure on him. He has health problems and a lot of pressure from his country… He has a lot of money already, like a lot of money, he’s good with money… I’d do the same if I were him.”
It should be noted that many reactions to Borralho`s comments were critical, with fans pointing to previous instances where he has made statements that turned out to be incorrect.
Khamzat Chimaev`s path to a UFC title shot has been marked by major setbacks
Upon his UFC debut in 2020, Khamzat Chimaev quickly became a major talking point. `Borz` secured three dominant victories in rapid succession and seemed poised for a welterweight title contention within months, had a planned fight with Leon Edwards materialized.
While he remains undefeated in the Octagon, Chimaev`s momentum was significantly impacted over the following years due to serious health issues, leading to prolonged periods of inactivity.
Having seemingly overcome these challenges and finally reaching a title opportunity, seeing him potentially walk away while at the top of his game would be incredibly disappointing for fans, even if there are valid personal reasons for such a decision.
