Khamzat Chimaev (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Khamzat Chimaev has had his next UFC bout pushed back a couple of times now, on account of a lengthy battle with COVID-19. But, the rising fighter’s manager is reporting we could see Chimaev in the Octagon this summer.

Chimaev (9-0) has not fought now since September, when he quickly KO’d Gerald Meerschaert. The 26-year-old was scheduled to fight welterweight contender Leon Edwards a couple of times. But, due to medical issues stemming from the coronavirus, Chimaev was unable to fight.

Recently Chimaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke with MMA Junkie, however, and while doing so, he reported this.

“He had a procedure,” Abdelaziz said. “Actually, his first day of training was three days ago. He’s coming back with a vengeance, man. He has so much to prove. He was the guy main-eventing. Guess what? COVID rules the world right now, and COVID got him. You see Alexander (Volkanovski), the (UFC) featherweight champion. I hope he’s OK. He had some problems with it. Khamzat had some problems with it. Now he’s 100 percent healthy. He’s back training this week or last week.”

“We’ll see him at the end of July (or) August,” Abdelaziz said. “Even Dana (White) was asking me the other day. I told him the end of July or August he’ll fight. I told Sean (Shelby), too. Realistically, I think it’s time to slow it down a little bit, but I think he’s going to make a (bigger) statement on the comeback. He’s going to keep climbing. He’s a special talent. He’s a superstar, I believe, in the making. All of us will see. Everyone who understands MMA will understand what Khamzat brings. It is what it is, and we have to move on. Sickness can’t control that.”

Chimaev made headlines last summer by becoming the first fighter in modern, UFC history to win two bouts in just 10 days.