UFC 308: Why Khamzat Chimaev may no longer be the future superstar many expected when he arrived

Khamzat Chimaev appears to be on the verge of winning the title at UFC 308. But as the UFC's next big thing approaches his big night, he's dangerously close to becoming one of the great what-if stories. Long-held enthusiasm about Chimaev's potential is increasingly being undermined by fears.

Chimaev's early performances were as flawless as could be. Chimaev smashed two opponents in 10 days and three in two months, repelling a total of one punch. It was unlike anything fans had seen before. After an incredible debut year, Chimaev was ready The Mixed martial arts breakout star. Then the problems piled up.

Recurring illnesses, injuries and career missteps have cooled his momentum. Many still believe in Chimaev's positive development, but there is a growing undercurrent of concern.

Let's look at why fans and the UFC are turning off Chimaev ahead of his return against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on Saturday.

The double-edged sword of COVID-19

The UFC sought creative solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. UFC CEO Dana White and his company founded Fight Island in Abu Dhabi to host their fights there. The promotion held four events in the region within two weeks to keep things moving, particularly for fighters who were unable to travel to the United States at the time.

Chimaev was perhaps the greatest benefactor of this constellation. Chimaev made his short-notice UFC debut on July 16, 2020, dominating John Phillips en route to a submission in Round 2. Chimaev fought ten days later – breaking the record for shortest fight turnaround time in the modern UFC era – and stopped Rhys McKee with punches in round 1. Less than two months later, a 17-second knockout victory over Gerald Meerschaert followed.

Chimaev has been a big winner in the UFC's COVID-19 era. In a cruel twist of fate, the virus also caused Chimaev's suffering.

The UFC has scheduled Chimaev for his first UFC main event against top welterweight contender Leon Edwards. The fight was scheduled three times between December 2020 and March 2021 and was canceled each time due to Chimaev's complications with COVID-19. The original appointment was scrapped after both men tested positive; However, Chimaev's long-term complications with the disease forced the others to cancel. Chimaev's lung problems became a serious and ongoing problem, even leading him to briefly retire in March 2021.

Most recently, Chimaev canceled an appointment with Whittaker in June due to illness. With activity at the scene exploding, Saturday's fight will be only his fifth appearance in the last four years. Chimaev is no longer a reliable contributor to the promotion's busy schedule of events, while UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is saving cards left and right.

“A lot of shitty things happened in my life, I was sick and had to have surgery,” Chimaev told CBS Sports. “That’s why I fought differently than before.”

Misses the target

Before UFC 308 was Chimaev's big night, there was UFC 279. Chimaev was set to headline his first pay-per-view in September 2022 against box office star Nate Diaz. The folk hero fought for his UFC contract to secure a lucrative boxing match with Jake Paul. Most saw this as an incredible disparity with the UFC trying to squeeze one last draw out of a fading star. Chimaev was younger, faster and stronger and had a style tailored to Diaz's defensive weaknesses.

As Chimaev stepped onto the scale, the big spotlight ran out of power. The Chechnya-born fighter lost a massive 7.5 pounds in weight. Diaz cleverly invoked his contractual right to refuse the fight and forced UFC to fight. To save the map, several fights were shuffled. Diaz celebrated a hero's farewell by defeating Tony Ferguson in the main event; Meanwhile, Chimaev steamrolled Kevin Holland at catchweight. Sure, Chimaev won, but he almost caused a UFC PPV to implode. Chimaev has not been booked for a welterweight fight since.

“I think we just started this camp too heavy,” Chimaev’s trainer Andreas Michael said on “The MMA Hour” after the fight. “We should have exercised a little more discipline and kept our weight at an appropriate level, at an appropriate weight that is similar to the weight he trains at and goes to camp at.

“[Chimaev] is a great fighter and I love him to death – but what I'm saying is that it was completely unprofessional on our part not to make weight. Anyone who doesn't gain weight is absolutely unprofessional. I would like [apologize] for this in Nate's camp. We both should have gained weight and there are no excuses.”

UFC fought again for Chimaev's next fight, but through no fault of Chimaev. Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman made his middleweight debut on 10 days' notice after Paulo Costa was forced out of a scheduled fight against Chimaev at UFC 294.

Chimaev dominated in Round 1 but looked drained in the final two frames. Chimaev narrowly won a majority decision that raised more questions about his potential than it answered.

“Kamaru is one of the best players I have ever played against. Pound for pound he was No. 1,” Chimaev told CBS Sports, pushing back against those threatening his victory. “People forget who Kamaru Usman was. When I beat him everyone said he wasn’t that good, but this guy is crazy good.”

White had claimed that Chimaev would be ejected for the title against Usman, but there was no chance for Chimaev to win the title. He was subsequently cautioned in another title eliminator against Whittaker in June. When Whittaker vs. Chimaev was rebooked for UFC 308, there was no mention of a title fight in the promotion. According to White, Sean Strickland will next challenge middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. It could be a matter of timing, but it also suggests there is some skepticism about the top talent.

Watch the full interview with Khamzat Chimaev below.

Will Chimaev become UFC champion?

Chimaev finds himself in an unusual place. Although he is considered a future title challenger, fans, media and fighters alike are divided on what could happen if he makes it.

CBS Sports interviewed several current and former UFC champions, as well as a middleweight contender, to answer the question: Will Khamzat Chimaev ever become UFC champion?

“I think he has the caliber of a world champion,” former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman told CBS Sports. “But it depends on his health.”

“I’m going to say no just based on his track record of not coming through in these fights,” said former lightweight champion Frankie Edger. “Does he have the talent to become champion? 100%. But talent is not enough.”

Former women's strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk compared Chimaev's case to that of Tatiana Suarez, another highly touted contender who has suffered from health problems. According to reports from MMA Fighting and MMA Melotto, Suarez pulled out of her fight at UFC 310 with an injury just days before CBS Sports published this story.

“He is very talented like Tatiana Suarez, but they get injured a lot,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I think Tatiana will be UFC strawweight champion, and Chimaev is the same. He is very talented, a super hard worker and gifted fighter. He can be the champion.”

Reigning middleweight champion Du Plessis had previously predicted that the winner of Whittaker vs. Chiamev would win the title against former champion Sean Strickland. But du Plessis was cautious about Chimaev's consistency, although he believes UFC is treating Chimaev very positively.

“The winner of Khamzat and Whittaker will get the title shot. That’s what’s going to happen,” Du Plessis told CBS Sports ahead of his fight against Israel Adesanya in August. “Strickland says he will wait until he has a shot at the title, in my opinion he will wait quite a while.”

“If Whittaker beats Khamzat he will have a three-fight winning streak and will have a 100% shot at the title. The UFC has wanted to give Khamzat a shot at the title since his debut. If it's a draw, maybe Khamzat will still get a chance for the title.” In my opinion. Let's see if he comes to the fight.

Fellow middleweight contender Caio Borralho previously trained with Chiamev and suspects the popular fighter's training regimen is having a negative impact on his career.

“I think he certainly has the potential to be a UFC champion,” Borralho told CBS Sports. “I train with him and I know how good he is. I think he trains too hard and his body can't take it. He needs to get his training camps and diet under control.”

Check out full interviews with UFC fighters below.

The next few weeks will be crucial for Chimaev. If the highly touted contender defeats Robert Whittaker on Saturday, he will be the most deserving contender after du Plessis and Strickland. Chimaev's remarkable UFC career has been clouded by uncertainty, but the fog may finally be lifting as he enters his fifth year.

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