This weekend, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its highly anticipated debut in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Despite a promising card, the event is notably missing one of its star attractions: Khamzat Chimaev. Originally set to headline against Robert Whittaker, a match with significant implications for the Middleweight championship, Chimaev was forced to withdraw due to severe illness.
Chimaev’s management team at All Stars Gym in Sweden revealed that the fighter has been in and out of hospitals throughout his training camp, unable to compete. The specifics of his illness remain unclear, leaving both Chimaev and his team searching for answers. Alexander Gustafsson, Chimaev’s training partner and former top Light Heavyweight contender, recently provided some insight during an interview with Papa Kuranchie.
“The guy gets ill,” Gustafsson stated. “There is something with his body that reacts to hard training because he is the hardest worker in the room, he’s always been the hardest worker. They have to run some tests and see what the background is, whether there is something in his body that’s reacting to the hard training because he trains very hard. I hope they find what it is and take care of the problem and he gets better.”
Gustafsson elaborated on Chimaev’s condition, noting that even minor illnesses seem to hit him hard. “He very easily catches a cold, for example—a running nose, coughing, symptoms that are not a big deal at all, we all get that,” he continued. “But, I’ve seen when he increases his training a lot, I know his body reacts differently to the training. I don’t know where it comes from. It’s crazy how he reacts to the training these days.”
The frustration and disappointment are palpable for Chimaev, especially with such a high-profile fight on the line. “I can’t even imagine how frustrated he is, I know he doesn’t feel good at all,” Gustafsson added. “He’s ill, he’s very ill. Not only that, it’s the mental part. You have a big fight ahead of you, it’s the big card in Saudi Arabia and everything is on you, then this s— happens. He’s going through some hard times right now but I know the guy, he’s going to come back stronger and take care of the issue.”
Chimaev’s health issues are not new. Since a severe bout with COVID-19 in early 2021, his ability to train and compete at the highest level has been inconsistent. Although he has fought three times since recovering from COVID-19 and won all three bouts, his readiness for major fights remains in question.
Dana White, UFC President, has also expressed concerns. “Every time he gets close, he gets really sick,” White noted. Without a clear diagnosis or treatment plan, the UFC faces a challenge in relying on Chimaev for main event slots. Until his health stabilizes, it’s uncertain how the organization will proceed with the talented but troubled fighter.
For now, fans and the UFC community can only hope that medical tests will uncover the root cause of Chimaev’s health issues and lead to a solution that allows him to return to the octagon in peak condition. The resilience and determination that Chimaev has shown throughout his career suggest that if anyone can overcome such adversity, it is him.
