UFC Books Middleweight Fights to Clarify Contenders for Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev captured the UFC middleweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August, marking his ascent to the top of the 185-pound division. Now, as speculation swirls about his first title defense, the UFC is booking a series of high-stakes bouts to clarify the contender landscape while the champion faces potential scheduling hurdles.

Chimaev, a Chechen fighter known for his aggressive style, has fought sparingly in recent years, competing just once annually over the past three. His title-winning performance against du Plessis was decisive but lacked the excitement of his earlier finishes, prompting questions about a rematch. Instead, attention has shifted to emerging challengers. Nassourdine Imavov solidified his status as the leading contender with a unanimous decision win over Caio Borralho in the main event of UFC Paris in September, a bout widely viewed as a title eliminator. Imavov, with a 17-4 record, has called out Chimaev directly, and the champion has acknowledged the challenge. However, reports suggest reluctance to book the fight soon, possibly due to shared cultural ties as both are Muslim and Ramadan could...