Chimaev Details Hand Issues Before UFC Return

Khamzat Chimaev says recurring hand problems could require a short break, but he does not expect another extended absence from the UFC. Speaking ahead of his latest wrestling appearance, the former middleweight champion described a possible recovery period of one or two months and said he intends to keep training during that time.

The update gives a clearer picture of the obstacle between Chimaev and his next MMA fight. He wants to compete and eventually reclaim the championship, but a return date has not been announced. His estimate is his own assessment of the hand issues, rather than an official medical clearance or a confirmed booking.

Chimaev has also discussed Caio Borralho as a possible opponent. According to Chimaev, an October contest was unsuitable because Borralho was dealing with an injury, with November or December mentioned instead. Those conversations remain separate from a UFC announcement. For now, the concrete development is Chimaev explaining why his preparation may need a brief adjustment.

The title loss that changed Chimaev’s position

Chimaev last competed in the UFC at UFC 328 in Newark on May 9, when Sean Strickland took the middleweight championship by split decision. Two judges scored the five-round contest 48-47 for Strickland, while the third had the same score for Chimaev. It was a narrow result, but it left Chimaev pursuing the belt instead of defending it.

The official recap shows how the fight became competitive after a strong opening round for the champion. Chimaev controlled the first with wrestling. Strickland resisted his early attempts in the second and found top position himself, before the third and fourth rounds played out on the feet. Chimaev’s more powerful individual strikes were set against Strickland’s greater output.

In the fifth, Chimaev secured another takedown but could not keep Strickland down for long. The challenger returned to his feet, and the contest again became a striking exchange. That sequence explains why the result generated debate without changing the official outcome: Strickland left Newark with the championship.

Chimaev had reached the title through a very different performance at UFC 319. He defeated Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision to become champion, completing five rounds rather than relying on the quick finishes that had defined several earlier appearances. His two championship fights have therefore both gone the distance, with contrasting results.

Recovery and matchmaking are separate questions

Chimaev’s UFC record already includes victories achieved in several different ways. He submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308, earned a majority decision over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 and won a unanimous decision against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. That history provides the competitive basis for his ambitions even as the next step remains unsettled.

His recent wrestling activity should be viewed in its own context. A wrestling appearance is not an announcement that he has completed preparation for a UFC bout, which includes striking and a different competitive format. The hand problems are particularly relevant to the work he says he needs to address before that return.

Three distinctions matter when assessing his latest update:

• The possible one- or two-month break is Chimaev’s estimate, not a published medical timetable.
• Borralho has been discussed as an opponent, but no UFC bout has been confirmed.
• Wanting another championship opportunity does not establish that his next fight will be for the belt.

The practical issue is now how recovery and matchmaking line up. Chimaev has described a manageable interruption and continues to pursue competition, while his championship history gives those plans weight. The next meaningful confirmation would be a UFC booking with an opponent and date. Until that arrives, his latest comments explain his intended route back rather than establish a scheduled return.