Khamzat Chimaev has announced that he will not participate in UFC 300.
With UFC CEO Dana White facing difficulties in securing a main event for the historic show on April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has decided not to be part of the event.
MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed on Monday that the UFC’s top choice was to have Chimaev face welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the main event, but Chimaev’s entry into the United States poses a challenge.
“Borz” quickly dismissed these speculations, stating that he will not be on the card against Edwards or anyone else.
“I am willing to fight anyone,” Chimaev told MMA Uncensored. “Leon (Edwards), (Dricus) Du Plessis – anyone. But not during Ramadan. I believe Ramadan falls during UFC 300. Maybe I can fight someone in Saudi Arabia. I would like to fight there. I won’t fight during Ramadan anymore.”
Ramadan, which begins on March 10 and ends on April 9 this year, is a month where practicing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food and water. Ramadan ends just a few days before UFC 300, but it would require Chimaev to undergo a training camp while fasting.
Chimaev, who remains undefeated, last fought in October at UFC 294, where he narrowly defeated short-notice replacement Kamaru Usman in a bout that was billed as a No. 1 contender fight in the middleweight division.
The last time Chimaev attempted to compete at welterweight, he missed weight by eight pounds for his originally scheduled fight against Nate Diaz in September 2022. Instead, he faced Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout at 180 pounds, which he won by first-round submission.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com