After nearly two years stuck outside the country, Khamzat Chimaev is back inside the United States.
UFC’s top-ranked Middleweight contender hasn’t competed stateside since a Sept. 2022 win over Kevin Holland, and numerous reports had him unable to return to the country because of sanctions on Chechen leader and Khamzat training buddy, Ramzan Kadyrov.
He even hosted Kadyrov at his wedding.
Nevertheless, Chimaev’s last two fights have taken place in Abu Dhabi, but UFC booked “Borz” for a high-profile Middleweight title fight against its 185-pound champion, Dricus du Plessis, at UFC 319 on Aug. 16, 2025, in Chicago.
Now, we have footage via Red Corner MMA of Khamzat after he arrived in Los Angeles, California.
Chimaev was already having enough trouble fighting without travel restrictions messing up things further. Ever since a near-death case of COVID-19 almost retired him back in 2020, he’s had mysterious illness flare-ups that have allowed him to fight just five times in five years. But, “Borz” continued to impress (like this) when he did manage to get into the cage, and a UFC title fight was only an inevitability.
Well, only if Chimaev could enter the United States again.
Considering UFC CEO, Dana White, is amazing friends with U.S. President, Donald Trump, many considered it only a matter of time before Chimaev’s issues with the State Department were sorted. And now we have proof that they have been: Khamzat is in the U.S. again, and capable of fighting in Chicago.
Now, he just has to make it to Aug. 16, 2025, in good health (gulp).
To checkout the latest UFC 319 fight card and rumors click here.
