Khamzat Chimaev sustained a torn ligament in his hand during a fight against Kamaru Usman, and he will need to wear a brace for the next month before undergoing rehabilitation, but the injury does not require surgery; furthermore, despite the injury, Chimaev’s impressive victory keeps his undefeated record intact and puts him in line for a middleweight title shot against Sean Strickland in 2024, pending an official decision from the UFC.
Khamzat Chimaev sustained a torn ligament in his hand during his recent victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. Despite the injury, Chimaev displayed a dominant performance in the first round, receiving high scores. Initially concerned about a possible break, it was later confirmed by his manager Majdi Shammas that he had a torn ligament. As a result, Chimaev will wear a brace for the next month and then undergo rehabilitation. Surgery is unlikely, but the injury will be reevaluated after the brace is removed.
ESPN was the first to report the news of Chimaev’s injury. The hard-fought win not only preserved his undefeated record but also put him in line for a middleweight title shot. UFC CEO Dana White had announced this opportunity before the event, but no official decision has been made by the organization yet. If the title shot is granted, Chimaev will face new champion Sean Strickland in 2024. In the meantime, Chimaev will focus on resting and recovering from his hand injury while awaiting confirmation from the UFC regarding his title shot in the upcoming year.