Khamzat Chimaev Speaks Out After UFC Saudi Arabia Withdrawal
- Publish date: Tuesday، 18 June 2024
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Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated MMA star, has issued his first public statement following his withdrawal from the highly anticipated middleweight match against Robert Whittaker. The bout was scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Chimaev, who was forced to pull out due to an undisclosed illness requiring hospitalization, expressed his disappointment on Instagram, stating, "We always plan something but Allah has his own plans for us! Alhamdulilah."
The 30-year-old fighter, who last defeated Kamaru Usman in October 2023 at UFC 294, has had a series of health challenges, including a battle with Covid-19 and now intestinal issues.
Despite these setbacks, Chimaev's manager, Majdi Shammas, assured fans that Chimaev would return to the Octagon.
Shammas revealed that Chimaev had suffered from food poisoning and dismissed any retirement rumors, saying, "It’s absolutely not true. We’re planning on getting to the bottom of this situation, the problems. He will be back."
Replacing Chimaev in the bout against Whittaker is Ikram Aliskerov. Aliskerov, 31, boasts a record of 15-1 MMA and is coming off a TKO victory over Warlley Alves last October at UFC 294. Robert Whittaker, 33, is also on a high, having recently defeated Paulo Costa in February at UFC 298.
As the new match-up approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how Aliskerov will fare against Whittaker. The change in opponents adds an unexpected twist to the event, but the excitement remains palpable.