Chicago — It seems as if Khamzat Chimaev has been talked about as a title hopeful for years. This Saturday at UFC 319, he finally gets his chance, booked into a title fight with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.
The pair actually arrived in the UFC in the very same year, Chimaev just slightly ahead of the man he will face for gold this Saturday. “Borz” came by way of Brave CF, Du Plessis, a South African, had won gold in Poland’s KSW.
Yet Chiamev struggled with health and activity, holding him back. That allowed “Stillknocks” Du Plessis to ascend to the top of the mountain, earning credit for his unorthodox style.
“All of his last fights, he’s done good, done well,” Chimaev (14-0) said when asked about the champ during Wednesday’s UFC 319 media day, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press.
Many are expecting a wild first round, with Chimaev known for his strong starts. If that’s the plan, he wasn’t giving any hints. “I don’t know, we’ll see in the cage brother. It’s too early to think about these things. When I see his face, it’s different.”
There’s been a bit of trash talk ahead of the fight, which Khamzat Chimaev has willingly engaged in. As he sees it, “all the fighters talk, but nothing is going to change. Everyone has to fight in the cage anyway, so whatever he says, forget about [it]. I’m here to beat him up, take my money and go home.”
Over a dozen champs have claimed UFC gold while undefeated; Chimaev hopes to be the next. Only one has retired undefeated, however. That would be Khabib Nurmagomedov. Asked whether he hopes to be the second to do so, Chimaev was nonchalant. “I don’t care if I be undefeated or not. Whatever God wants, I’m ready for that.”
Having recently opened a gym in Chechnya for kids, Chimaev turned heads by stating he wouldn’t include a cage for MMA training. Asked to explain why, he said on Wednesday that “I don’t think MMA can be good for kids, because we punch [each other] in the face, we break each other.”
Noting how MMA blends together multiple martial arts disciplines, Chimaev added that “this is an amazing sport, but not for the kids. I think it should be at least 15 years to train some different sports. Boxing, or judo, or wrestling, grappling. A lot of different sports for the young boys. So that’s why.”
Watch the full UFC 319 media day appearance by middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev above. The card takes place this Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, IL.
