The UFC prospect that generated the most buzz in 2020 is getting ready to return. Khamzat Chimaev (9-0) is inching closer and closer to making his way back inside the octagon and he’s heading to Las Vegas this week to meet with the UFC.
Chimaev came onto the scene last July when he made his UFC debut on Fight Island. Chimaev won two fights in ten days and he did it in extremely dominating fashion. He also did it in two separate weight classes.
Then, in August, he fought Gerald Meerschaert and knocked him out with the first punch he through. Chimaev was being fast-tracked towards the top of the UFC‘s welterweight division. However, it became tough to get anyone to take a fight against him.
Ultimately, he landed a main event slot against top contender Leon Edwards. The two were set to meet in December, however, Edwards had to pull out due to COVID. They rescheduled the fight two more times, but Chimaev’s own battle with COVID scrapped those two fights.
Chimaev’s battle with COVID was so tough that he hinted at retiring from the UFC altogether. But, the promotion got him the medical help he needed and he’s been training like a mad man ever since. Dana White said on Mike Swick’s Podcast this week that he’s scheduled to meet with Chimaev regarding his return.
Who should the UFC pair him with?
The UFC is going to give Chimaev a quality opponent in his next fight. To me, there’s one guy who fits the bill and he’s already been having back-and-forth with Chimaev. That man is the Haitian Sensation, Neil Magny (25-8).
Magny is coming off of a big win over Neil Magny last month. When the UFC was having a hard time finding Chimaev an opponent, Magny was the one guy who was very vocal about fighting Chimaev.
However, at the time, the UFC wanted to give Chimaev someone with a little more behind their name. Now that the Chimaev momentum has slowed down, I think it’s a perfect test to have him fight Magny. A fight with Magny will tell us a ton about how good Khamzat Chimaev really is.