Rumored MMAmania says UFC plan is early 2026 title defense for Chimaev & then White House fight

[Khaosan]

Why are we even pretending this is true? Some guy on mmamania said it, oh shit then this must be the plan.

Are you trying to tell me that the internet doesn't lie?

 

[Adamant]

It's despicable that UFC won't let him fight in October like he wants to.

 

[Alpha_T83]

Huh? He just won the title in August. Why would you expect him to fight again in 2025? December would be the only option & currently the expectation is Volkanovski will be the one headlining that card.

Champions used to fight every 6 months. 20 years ago they'd fight 3 times a year.

We are drifting towards fighters fighting once a year, and it's not good.

 

[JoeRowe]

So many fans can’t seem to think logically to realize that Khamzat defending his belt again this year was never going to happen. By the time he won the belt they already had main events set through November.

320 has two title fights already and they aren’t going to put Khamzat as the co-main to Ankalaev vs Pereira. For 321, again they aren’t going to put Khamzat as a co-main to Aspinall vs Gane. And in the case of 322 they aren’t going to put Islam vs JDM as the co-main to Khamzat vs whoever. I guess December was a potential option but there’s also other champions that need to get fights in as well such as Volk like you mentioned, who again, isn’t going to be put in a co-main slot.

Fans might not like it but it’s just how it works. There are certain fighters and divisions that basically have to be the main event. In fact, there are really only two men’s divisions that they will put a title fight as a co-main and it’s FLW and BW.

Huh? He just won the title in August. Why would you expect him to fight again in 2025? December would be the only option & currently the expectation is Volkanovski will be the one headlining that card.

2025 was unrealistic but JAN/FEB is perfectly reasonable for a a guy who took no damage and was asking to fight again in OCT. With Ramadan starting FEB 17th I think the FEB 14th PLE(UFC 325) seems logical.

If not then he'll be out until the summer, nearly 1 year of inactivity for a guy who has already wasted much of his prime.

 

[richardjohnson]

2025 was unrealistic but JAN/FEB is perfectly reasonable for a a guy who took no damage and was asking to fight again in OCT. With Ramadan starting FEB 17th I think the FEB 14th PLE(UFC 325) seems logical.

If not then he'll be out until the summer, nearly 1 year of inactivity for a guy who has already wasted much of his prime.

I agree, which is why I said he was never going to fight again this year.

 

[FreedomCricket]

I'm still holding out hope for an October title defense for Khamzat.

 

[Kratos94]

Lmfao. Imagine Chimaev shouting allahu akbar at the White House.

 

[Jeffery09]

I knew Trump would demand Khamzat to fight on the White House card.

Trump is a Khamzat fan and he has qouted khamzat many times on truth social before

This. The demand of getting Khamzat on the card comes from none other then Trump.

He is a certified Chimaev fan

 

[theincognito]

That would be reeetarded

You're really going to risk such a massive card being capped off with a LNPfest like he did vs. DDP?

 

[UFConFOX]

That would be reeetarded

You're really going to risk such a massive card being capped off with a LNPfest like he did vs. DDP?

Nah they'll bring in an American who won't be scared shitless to give up his neck or back. I say go w/ Cody Brundage.

If Brundage says he's prepared for war he won't really mean he wants to be under another man for 20 minutes. Cody's already thrown Bo like a sack of Udaho potatoes so he's figuratively already shown he can manhandle the best American wrestler. So It's the daddy of American Wrestlers vs a failed Russian Wrestler. Winner gets Western Europe....soon.

 

[Koro_11]

Who outside the hardcore base has even heard of Khamzat?

Also who will want a historical white house main event that will literally put the crowd to sleep?

 

[rjmbrd]

Huh? He just won the title in August. Why would you expect him to fight again in 2025? December would be the only option & currently the expectation is Volkanovski will be the one headlining that card.

Because he hadn't fought in 11 months prior to his single fight in 2025 and sustained zero injuries?

That was a fight where no one got hurt and it looked like wrestling/grappling practice.

It would make sense to bring him back again instead of another extended break.

 

[Jeffery09]

Because he hadn't fought in 11 months prior to his single fight in 2025 and sustained zero injuries?

That was a fight where no one got hurt and it looked like wrestling/grappling practice.

It would make sense to bring him back again instead of another extended break.

He will be back early this time

 

[JakePaulMMA]

Khamzat making the White House Great Again

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Khamzat making the White House Great Again

Khamzat screaming Allahu Akbar will make some of them right wingers cry takeover lol .

 

[188912345]

They definitely missed an opportunity to get RDR vs Khamzat in October.
RDR is at his peak and he is confident in his ground game, so he would have accepted it.

I'm not sure how realistic quick turnarounds will be in the future, given the stylistic challenge he presents I would assume that most of the other contenders would like to have a 2-3 months fight camp to face him.

This year it seemed like Khamzat was ready whenever, but Dricus wanted 6 months to prepare.

 

[KO Shotz]

Khamzat vs Imavov next.

Then Khamzat vs Ank.

Calling it now.