Khamzat Chimaev is just weeks away from the biggest fight of his career to date. Since his UFC debut, he has quickly become one of the most thrilling fighters in the sport, with fans eagerly anticipating his rise to the top. The undefeated contender is set to face Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16th, marking his first shot at a title.
Chimaev’s training camp in the United States seems to be overcoming the issues that previously stalled his progress, suggesting he is finally on track. At 31 years old, he appears to have arrived at the moment many expected years ago, though there are whispers his ascent may be brief. Recently, in an interview with MMA Today, Caio Borralho made a startling prediction about Chimaev’s future. The Brazilian, who once trained Chimaev, hinted that if Chimaev wins the belt, he might retire—an idea fueled by rumors circulating before the fight. Borralho said, “There are some whispers that if he wins the belt, he’s going to retire. I don’t necessarily believe it, but that’s the talk.”
Borralho suggested several reasons why Chimaev might step away from fighting despite his success: immense pressure, health concerns, national expectations, and financial security. He noted, “He already has a lot of money and if I were him, I might consider the same.” However, fans have been critical of Borralho’s claims, accusing him of spreading false statements in past comments.
When Chimaev burst onto the UFC scene in 2020, he rapidly became a top prospect, racking up three dominant wins within months and positioning himself for a welterweight title shot against Leon Edwards within half a year. Despite remaining undefeated, serious health problems slowed his momentum and kept him inactive for a long period. Now that those issues seem behind him, the possibility of Chimaev retiring while at his peak would be a disappointing turn for many fans, although understandable given the pressure and circumstances.
Fan Take: This upcoming fight and the whispers of Chimaev’s potential retirement add significant intrigue to UFC 319. For fight fans, seeing one of the sport’s brightest stars possibly considering an early exit is both surprising and a reminder of the intense physical and mental toll MMA takes on its athletes.
