Khamzat Chimaev claims UFC rival is "running" from fight after year-long wait

08 February 2023 , 13:31

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Khamzat Chimaev has reportedly been stranded in Russia after having his 'passport confiscated' (Image: Getty Images)

Khamzat Chimaev has accused UFC rival Colby Covington of avoiding a fight with him.

Chiamev, 28, hasn't fought since tapping out Kevin Holland in two minutes at UFC 279 last September. The Chechen was originally supposed to face Nate Diaz in the headline act of the pay-per-view event, but the fight was cancelled after Chimaev missed weight by 7.5lb.

'Borz' was expected to face former interim welterweight champion Covington at UFC 286 in March but the fight never materially. Chimaev has been left frustrated at the UFC's inability to find him a fight and he is now planning to move up to middleweight to fight Robert Whittaker next.

"At first, they said it was Colby Covington. We've been waiting for half a year," Chimaev told Red Corner MMA. "It looks like he doesn't want it. They all call me out, but as soon as the UFC tries to make the fight, they start running. I think it's going to be the winner of Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards, whoever takes it will face me.

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"I think I will fight Robert Whittaker. He's got no opponent. Paulo Costa ran away after talking that much about me and Robert so I will fight Whittaker. I want this fight, although I like him as a human being. He is a solid guy, doesn't talk trash, doesn't cross any lines. We are going to have fun at the press conference and fight each other."

Covington hasn't fought since winning a one-sided decision against old friend turned bitter rival Jorge Masvidal last March. Just weeks after the fight, Masvidal allegedly attacked Covington outside of a restaurant in Miami and left him with a "brain injury". It's unclear if the ongoing legal issue is delaying Covington's return to the UFC.

Six months have almost passed since Khamzat Chimaev's last fight (Zuffa LLC)

Chimaev isn't going to sit around and wait for Covington as he wants to move back up to middleweight to challenge former champion Whittaker. Chimaev was nonchalant about fighting Whittaker last year as he said he would rather "train" with the Australian, who admitted that Chimaev is a talented fighter with great wrestling abilities.

"It would be tricky, I would be firing those kicks down the middle like you wouldn't believe," Whittaker said of fighting Chimaev. "I've fought wrestlers before though, like Yoel Romero who is an Olympic silver medalist. Granted that Khamzat is not that sort of grappler, but that's something I'd have to digest if we get there."

Harry Davies