Overview
- Chimaev said in remarks recorded by Adam Zubayraev that he needs a small foot procedure and will halt training, with preparations resuming after Ramadan ends on March 18, 2026.
- The stated recovery plan makes April the earliest realistic window for his first title defense since winning the middleweight belt at UFC 319.
- Fans on social media are pressing UFC CEO Dana White to institute an interim middleweight championship during the champion’s layoff.
- Despite the injury update, Chimaev was seen in Qatar with training partner Arman Tsarukyan during the UFC’s event week there.
- With an expected five-to-six-month absence, the contender landscape remains unsettled, with names like Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland in circulation as plans evolve.