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Khamzat Chimaev targets Caio Borralho for return to UFC middleweight division

2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 4:56 AM

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev targets Caio Borralho for return to UFC middleweight division

Summary

Khamzat Chimaev plans a return to the UFC following his first professional loss to Sean Strickland in May. After considering multiple potential opponents, including Dricus Du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov, Chimaev signaled interest in a bout against Caio Borralho. Borralho recently secured a victory over Reinier de Ridder and holds an 8-1 record within the promotion since 2022. Chimaev is currently involved in non-UFC grappling competition, with a scheduled match against Gilbert Burns at the Real American Freestyle event on September 18. Officials have not confirmed a date for his return to the octagon, but the proposed matchup with Borralho is being positioned as a potential title eliminator given the current state of the middleweight rankings.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Khamzat Chimaev announced his intention to return to the UFC following his May loss to Sean Strickland.
•Chimaev indicated a preference for a fight against Caio Borralho via social media.
•Caio Borralho won eight of his nine UFC fights since joining the organization in 2022.
•Chimaev is slated to compete against Gilbert Burns in a grappling match on September 18.

Latest Updates

12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Khamzat Chimaev speaks on feeble UFC 328 performance: ‘There were mistakes’
4:56 AMYahoo Sports — Khamzat Chimaev Hints at UFC Middleweight Title Bout
9:22 PMYahoo Sports — Khamzat Chimaev drops major hint about next opponent

What they're saying

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Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev hinted at what could be the next UFC middleweight title bout.Chimaev lost his belt in a failed first title defense against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 in May.He has been chasing an immediate rematch with Strickland ever since, but to this point, he has not […] The post Khamzat Chimaev Hints at UFC Middleweight Title Bout appeared first on HEAVY.
— Yahoo Sports

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Khamzat Chimaev has been busy since losing his UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland back in May. In June he wrestled Dillon Danis for Real American Freestyle, pinning the unreliable BJJ standout easily. A brawl broke out afterward because Danis gonna Danis, but RAF didn’t blame Chimaev. Instead, they booked him to headline RAF Moscow […]
— Yahoo Sports