Overview
- Khamzat Chimaev said he needs a small operation on his foot and will pause training, targeting a return only after Ramadan.
- With Ramadan running from February 17 to March 19, 2026, outlets project the earliest realistic window for his next fight as April into mid‑2026.
- The UFC has not identified an opponent for his first defense, with Nassourdine Imavov, Anthony Hernandez, and Brendan Allen among the leading options discussed.
- Fan calls for an interim middleweight title have grown as the champion’s timetable stretches, though no such plan has been announced.
- Chimaev is currently in Qatar alongside Arman Tsarukyan, and coverage notes his recent pattern of one fight per year across 2023–2025.