Khamzat Chimaev has a massive fan base, especially in the Middle East. The undefeated Chechen was thus the ideal choice to headline the UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia. However, Chimaev withdrew from his fight against Robert Whittaker due to violent illness.
Ikram Aliskerov, a former opponent of Khamzat Chimaev, has stepped in on short notice. The real reason for Chimaev’s withdrawal is still a mystery. However, Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov, the ACA lightweight champion, alleged that Chimaev withdrew due to food poisoning.
Chimaev’s Training Partner Addresses Withdrawal Rumors
Abdulvakhabov didn’t have first-hand knowledge of the situation but revealed he knew about it through a mutual friend. However, Tam Khan, Chimaev’s training partner, has vehemently denied the food poisoning stories on X, formerly Twitter.
“All these fake rumours about @KChimaev pulling out due to food poisoning is absolutely bullshit. I was part of the camp & behind the scenes. As a brother I won’t share his dark times but trust me when I say, he was very sick & hospitalised,” tweeted Tam Khan, promising a massive return of Chimaev.
Khan revealed that Chimaev tried his best to overcome the illness, but it was not enough. He stated that Chimaev would return stronger, but rest and recovery are now the priority. After Chimaev pulled out, retirement rumors brewed, but his manager squashed them.
In the latest update to the UFC rankings, Chimaev fell out of the top 10 middleweight spot. Roman Dolidze moved from 11 to 10, trading spots with Chechen. Nonetheless, a victory in his next fight will easily put Chimaev back in the top 10, even the top 5.
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