To say that Khamzat Chimaev has been frustrated since contracting COVID-19 would be an understatement.
The Russian-born Swede has been forced to withdraw from his clash with Leon Edwards, scheduled for March 13.
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Khamzat Chimaev was the star of UFC’s breakthrough in 2020
The fight was originally scheduled for December, but Edwards tested positive for COVID. Then he was moved in January, but Chimaev tested positive.
Since then the UFC sensation has really struggled to get back in shape and he was rushed to hospital during his training camp for the fight. He told friends he “thought he was going to die”.
UFC President Dana White decided to fly Chimaev to Las Vegas in order to get him the best possible medical care, but Chimaev was left upset by his diminished health.
“Thank you all for supporting me in my journey in this sport,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I think I’m done.”
According to MMA Fighting, Chimaev also said this week, “I don’t know what this disease is, but it doesn’t survive easily.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, White explained why Chimaev had alluded to retirement and why there were so many complications in his recovery.
“When he got here the doctors took care of him, and they put him on prednisone which is a nasty f ****** steroid,” White said.
“He’s supposed to take this stuff and relax, relax and let himself be collected. He walked in and f ****** practiced today, felt like shit, and got super emotional and posted that.
“He’s not supposed to be training, but you know this guy is a savage.” He wants to fight like every fucking weekend, and now he can’t even train, so he just got emotional and posted that, but he just keeps on going.
Chimaev visibly struggles throughout video due to battle with COViD
White added that Chimaev will be “ fine ” and that he just needs to rest to recover.
The UFC chief added, “He’s training when he’s supposed to be resting. He should stay at rest, at least while he is taking this medicine.
Chimaev exploded onto the scene at the UFC with a record two wins in ten days on Fight Island, both of which were finishes.
He followed that up with a 17 second knockout in his third fight which landed him a date with a ranked fighter like Edwards.
In due course, he will have his chance again.
