Undefeated Chechen fighter Khamzat Chimaev has ruled out participating in the UFC 300 main event due to it coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, despite being considered as a potential opponent for either middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis or welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Khamzat Chimaev is itching to return to the ring. But, don’t hold your breath for his appearance at the UFC 300 main event.
Whispers of Chimaev’s involvement in the event started swirling after Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani, from MMA Fighting, let slip that the undefeated Chechen might be up against either Dricus du Plessis, the middleweight champ, or Leon Edwards, the welterweight king. These are two of the matchups the UFC is considering for the main event.
But, there’s a catch.
The holy month of Ramadan ends just a few days before UFC 300 kicks off on April 13. And Chimaev? He’s made it clear he won’t be available.
“I will fight everybody,” Chimaev declared on MMA Uncensored. “Leon [Edwards], [Dricus] du Plessis, anyone, but not [during] Ramadan. I think Ramadan [is during] UFC 300.”
He’s even got his sights set on a specific location. “Maybe somebody in Saudi Arabia. I want to fight there. Not fighting in Ramadan anymore.”
Ramadan starts on March 10 and wraps up on April 9. It’s a time when practicing Muslims observe strict fasting during daylight hours, with no food or water. The UFC’s first trip to Saudi Arabia is slated for June 22 in Riyadh.
Chimaev’s history with Ramadan is interesting. Back in 2022, he fought Gilbert Burns just days after Ramadan started. That was his last fight at welterweight. He then moved to a catchweight for a bout with Kevin Holland, followed by a shift to middleweight for a fight against Kamaru Usman.
This year, Ramadan ends right as UFC 300 fight week begins. That means Chimaev would be wrapping up a month-long fast just before stepping into the ring.
Chimaev isn’t alone in his stance on fighting during Ramadan. Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov famously refused to compete around Ramadan. His fights were usually scheduled for the beginning or end of the year.
On the other hand, Belal Muhammad has fought during Ramadan throughout his career. He admits it’s a personal choice and respects anyone who chooses differently.
“I’m just one of those where I’ve been doing it my whole life,” Muhammad said in 2018. “Like in high school, I played football and I always trained around Ramadan, and I feel like nowadays it’s tougher. Like mentally, it pushes me to a whole different level.”