White On Chimaev's Fight Demands

Dana White had little to offer when asked about Khamzat Chimaev's latest push to get back in the cage.

Chimaev, who lost his middleweight title shot to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 earlier this year, took to social media recently to lobby for another booking in 2026. White addressed the request at Tuesday's Contender Series press conference and gave what MMA Mania described as a non-answer that left fans frustrated.

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White Says Chimaev Among Fighters In Matchmaking Talks

"He wants to fight me? Oh, he just wants to fight," White said, per the outlet. "I didn't see [his tweet]. He's always in conversations to fight — the whole roster is. In a perfect world, everybody fights three times a year." White added that UFC matchmakers are contractually required to offer each fighter three bouts annually, meaning Chimaev still has two more opportunities on the table before the calendar flips.

The 32-year-old Chimaev has fought three times in a year only once during his UFC tenure — a 2020 stretch when he knocked out three opponents in two months. Since then, illness and weight struggles have slowed his activity. He last registered multiple fights in a calendar year in 2022.

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A rematch with Strickland remains under discussion for late 2026, according to the report.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Dana White responds to Khamzat’s UFC demands — and ‘Borz’ fans are not gonna like the answer