Khamzat Chimaev is considering a surprise boxing match against Conor McGregor while preparing for his first title defense in the UFC. Chimaev, the UFC middleweight champion, will defend his title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.
Chimaev has an undefeated record of 15-0 in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC. He won the middleweight title by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. His strategy in that fight included over 20 minutes of control time.
Khalil Rountree Jr., who trained with Chimaev, praised him as “the best in the world.” Chimaev stated he will always be a UFC fighter and is not planning a boxing transition. However, he expressed interest in a boxing match under Zuffa Boxing.
As of midday, the potential boxing match remains uncertain. McGregor has not competed since 2021 and has fought only four times since 2017. Chimaev’s focus appears to be on his upcoming fight against Strickland.
Chimaev described his mindset as “still the hunter” despite being a champion. Dana White indicated there are still key matchups available for Chimaev at middleweight. Yet, his potential move to light heavyweight is uncertain due to current circumstances.
The MMA community is reacting to these developments with mixed feelings. Rountree Jr. mentioned feeling bummed out upon hearing about the boxing match talks. He remarked, “It’s difficult in all areas, in standup, in grappling. No one gets an easy round with Khamzat.”
This unexpected consideration for a boxing match adds another layer to Chimaev’s career trajectory as he prepares to defend his title.
