Chimaev agrees to take Usman's call
In the world of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), two formidable fighters have expressed an interest in a potential title fight. Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, the undefeated top welterweight UFC fighter, and Kamaru "The Nigerian Nightmare" Usman, the former 170-pound division champion, have both shown a keen interest in squaring off.
Currently, Chimaev is not scheduled for a UFC welterweight title rematch against Usman. Instead, he is set to face champion Dricus Du Plessis for a UFC title at UFC 319, which is scheduled for August 16, 2025, in Chicago. This highly-anticipated bout will mark Chimaev's sixth consecutive win, with five finishes, as he continues to climb the rankings.
Chimaev and Usman have a history, having previously faced each other at UFC 284. The bout saw Chimaev dominating early, only for Usman to make the fight competitive. However, as of August 2025, no rematch between the two has been announced or planned.
Usman, aged 35, lost the welterweight championship to Leon Edwards in August 2022 and in their rematch in March 2023. Edwards, from England, has a record of 21-3. If Edwards continues to win, a fourth fight between Usman and an unspecified opponent could be on the cards.
Usman's record stands at 20-4, with three losses. Two of these losses were by KO in the 5th round and by Majority Decision, respectively. Chimaev, on the other hand, remains undefeated with a record of 12-0. He is currently ranked No4, while Usman holds the No1 spot.
The potential fight between Chimaev and Usman could be their first encounter in the UFC. It could also potentially be a title fight, given Usman's former status as the 170-pound division champion. The Swedish-born Chimaev has denied UFC president Dana White's statement that his prolonged inactivity was due to personal issues.
The idea of a fight between the two was first sparked when Usman issued a challenge in a recent ESPN interview, stating, "I think I should fight Khamzat," and adding, "if Leon keeps winning, we'll have a fourth fight." Chimaev responded to the challenge on social media, expressing his eagerness to face Usman.
As the UFC world eagerly awaits further announcements, one thing is certain: a potential fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman would be a highly anticipated event in the UFC calendar.
Khamzat Chimaev, despite being scheduled against Dricus Du Plessis for a UFC title, has expressed interest in a potential title fight against Kamaru Usman in the realm of mixed-martial-arts. Their history of dominance in the UFC makes a potential fight between the two formidable figures highly anticipated.
