Khamzat Chimaev’s absence from the first UFC middleweight title fight of 2024 makes all the sense in the world after the top contender took to Twitter on Tuesday night.

UFC 294 this past October saw not only the return of “Borz” in action for the first time since late 2022, but also his reinsertion into the 185-pound contender mix. The dominant undefeated 13-0 dynamo had been paired with one-time title challenger Paulo Costa before the Brazilian was dealt a nasty staph infection that led to his withdrawal. Instead, Chimaev went toe-to-toe with the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and picked up a big majority decision victory.

Despite each fighter not being in the division’s official UFC rankings, the implications ahead of the fight were that the winner would challenge for the title, according to UFC CEO Dana White. However, Chimaev was reportedly not included in negotiations for the next title fight between the champion Sean Strickland and challenger Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 on Jan. 20, per Strickland’s manager Lance Spaude in a November interview. Chimaev confirmed shortly after his fight that he’d suffered a hand injury and that surgery was imminent. Last night on Twitter, the middleweight superstar further confirmed his hand injury with some hospital photos that also revealed he had an unknown sickness that prevented him from returning as quickly as hoped. He deleted the tweet shortly after posting.

Twitter: @KChimaev

“I was very sick, my hand was injured, so I couldn’t return right away,” Chimaev said via Twitter translate. “I want to tell all the fountains, I want to see myself in battle more than all of you. I love this job. I will do and prove that I am the best, as always we do, and I will be back soon to Insha’Allal training.”

Chimaev, 29, established himself as one of the world’s best welterweights in 2022 when he defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision in what many considered the Fight of the Year. Ultimately, a large weight miss in his follow-up appearance opposite Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight contest led him back to 185 pounds. Regardless of his large 7.5-pound weight miss for what was originally a Nate Diaz main event clash, Chimaev dominated Holland en route to a first-round d’arce choke.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Matchmaking?

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Diet Reaper.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Charles Johnson (13-6) vs. Azat Maksum (17-0); UFC Vegas 84, Feb. 3

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Whatever Chimaev went through looks like an absolute nightmare. The guy has been through it health-wise since joining the UFC. Sheesh.

Thanks for reading!

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EXIT POLL

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