Khamzat Chimaev’s return to the octagon at UFC 300 in April is now highly unlikely.
Since his last fight against former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in October, ‘Borz’ has been absent from competition. Initially slated to face Paulo Costa in a title eliminator, Chimaev found himself confronting ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ when Costa withdrew.
Despite securing a victory by majority decision, the anticipated title shot didn’t materialize for Chimaev. Instead, Dricus du Plessis, who defeated Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator, was given the opportunity. Nevertheless, Chimaev remains a prominent contender at 185.
A recent revelation by MMA insider Ariel Helwani hinted at Chimaev’s potential involvement in UFC 300. Discussions were reportedly underway for him to face either Dricus du Plessis or Leon Edwards at the milestone event.
Du Plessis clinched the UFC middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland, while Edwards recently defended his title against Colby Covington.
However, Chimaev himself addressed speculation about his UFC 300 appearance on Instagram, dashing hopes of his participation due to Ramadan. Although Ramadan concludes just three days before the event, it seems impractical for the middleweight contender to prepare adequately within such a tight timeframe.
While Chimaev’s absence poses a challenge for UFC 300’s headline bout, other fighters have been considered. Tom Aspinall disclosed discussions about facing Stipe Miocic and Alex Pereira at the event, though neither materialized.
Jon Jones also acknowledged an offer to compete despite his injury. These instances, coupled with Chimaev’s decision, underscore the promotion’s struggle to secure a suitable headliner.
Nevertheless, UFC 300 promises to be a thrilling event with several noteworthy matchups. Scheduled title fights include Justin Gaethje defending his ceremonial ‘BMF’ title against Max Holloway and Zhang Weili facing Yan Xiaonan for the strawweight championship.
Former PFL tournament winner Kayla Harrison is set to make her promotional debut against Holly Holm.
