Dana White (photo) in video at UFC. Photo: Reproduction / Twitter
Khamzat Shimaev, one of the biggest rising names in UFC, once again finds himself surrounded by uncertainty regarding his career. The fighter, who was preparing to face Robert whittaker No. UFC Saudi Arabia this Saturday (22), it was forced to withdraw from the card due to health problems, according to official information from the organization.
Although the nature of the illness was not disclosed, Dana White, president of the UFC, expressed concern about Chimaev's condition in an interview with The Jim Rome Show.
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“The problem is that we really don’t know. I saw a video of him on the floor, extremely ill. It's not okay. He was hospitalized again. Every time he comes close to fighting, he gets very sick. I don't know, I don't know what to say. It's not like he's here in this country and we have doctors here to examine him or anything. He’s kind of out of touch, so it’s hard to deal with,” Dana added.
Will Chimaev still fight again?
This is not the first time that health problems have affected Chimaev's career in the UFC. In 2021, the fighter had to cancel fights against Leon edwards e Nate diaz due to serious complications from COVID-19, including hospitalization. Despite the setbacks, Chimaev remains undefeated in his professional career, with 13 victories, and is ranked eighth in the organization's middleweight rankings.
Chimaev's refusal to undergo medical examinations in the United States, as mentioned by Dana, raises even more doubts about his future in the Octagon. The lack of accurate information about his health status and the history of cancellations for medical reasons create a climate of uncertainty among MMA fans and experts.
