Khamzat Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, has revealed his desire for a future boxing encounter with former two-division champion Conor McGregor. Chimaev is scheduled to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland next weekend at UFC 328. Following this bout, Chimaev intends to move up to the light heavyweight division with aspirations of achieving success in multiple weight classes.
In a recent interview with KYNO TV, Chimaev, also known as “Borz,” stated his interest in facing McGregor in a boxing match under the Zuffa Boxing banner. He praised McGregor as one of the UFC’s premier boxers and expressed enthusiasm for the potential bout if Zuffa Boxing approves it. Chimaev suggested a 12-round boxing contest, humorously noting that McGregor’s charisma in his pre-fight interactions would make for an entertaining event.
Chimaev also shared that McGregor’s 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015 was a significant motivator for his own journey into mixed martial arts. He hopes to see “The Notorious” make a return to the Octagon in 2026.
While UFC President Dana White typically discourages UFC fighters from participating in boxing under the Zuffa Boxing banner, exceptions might be made for highly popular figures like McGregor and titleholders such as Chimaev.
Conor McGregor, who has been inactive since 2021, is reportedly considering a return to fighting in July during International Fight Week, with a potential rematch against Max Holloway being discussed, although an official announcement is still pending.