It would seem that middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev will be waiting a little longer than planned for his first UFC title shot.
Having successfully defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the reign of Dricus Du Plessis was expected to meet its tallest hurdle to date this summer.
“Stillknocks” appeared likely to face the challenge of Chimaev, an undefeated phenom who most recently steamrolled Robert Whittaker by way of a teeth-breaking face crank submission last October.
But though their bout was targeted for International Fight Week, a recent report from Kevin Iole has suggested that an injury to the champ has forced him out.
And Chimaev further corroborated that news Sunday with a frustrated post on social media.
“This guy biggest bullsh*t,” Chimaev wrote on X.
The apparent injury to the middleweight kinkpin seems to have boosted the chances of Islam Makhachev headlining UFC 317 in defense of his lightweight crown.
