Even with a major title fight just days away, Khamzat Chimaev is already looking beyond the octagon—and toward a potential boxing showdown with Conor McGregor.
Speaking during a recent media and training event in Southern California, Chimaev said a crossover bout under a “Zuffa boxing” concept would interest him, suggesting a 12-round fight with McGregor. While he made it clear he is not planning to leave mixed martial arts permanently, he admitted the idea of stepping into the ring for a high-profile clash “would be nice.”
The callout immediately sparked attention given McGregor’s own boxing history, most famously his 2017 mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the most commercially successful combat sports events of all time.
However, Chimaev’s focus remains firmly split between speculation and reality, as he prepares for a high-stakes UFC 328 main event against Sean Strickland in Newark. The buildup to that fight has already been intense, with tensions between the two fighters escalating in the lead-up to fight week.
Training alongside UFC light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree, Chimaev continues to sharpen his skills as he transitions further into the middleweight division. Despite whispers about potential moves to heavier weight classes or even boxing exhibitions, those close to his camp insist his immediate priority remains his UFC title ambitions.
For now, the McGregor talk remains just that—talk—but it adds yet another layer of intrigue to a fighter already sitting at the center of one of MMA’s most closely watched title runs.#newsafro_
