Islam MakhachevS manager rules out Khamzat Chimaev fight
Ali Abdelaziz was asked about Islam Makhachev vs. Khamzat Chimaev possibly happening.
Talk of the potential super-fight followed Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant middleweight title win over Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 earlier this month.
Makhaachev is the former pound-for-pound king and the former lightweight champion making the move too welterweight. Makhachev relinquished his title in pursuit of a second belt against champion Maddalena jack at 170 lbs.
While Makhachev and Chimaev are divisions apart, Chimaev recently said the quickest path to being the #1 pound-for-pound planet was by beating Makhachev.
Makhachev has since responded, saying ‘we’ll see’ adding that he doesn’t want any problems between their people and that he still has to get past JDM first, which according to Abdelaziz is a ‘done deal’.
Chimaev fought at welterweight earlier in his UFC career, but it looks like team Makhachev isn’t on board with the matchup.
Ali Abdelaziz, Manager of Makhachev and the Legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t think we’ll ever get to see ‘Chimaev vs. Makhachev’ on the marquee.”This fight will never happen,” Makhachev’s manager said of Chimaev vs. Makhachev on Submission Radio.
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Justin Gaethje Remains Firm on Title shot demand, Manager says He’ll Retire if Denied
Justin Gaethje is still holding firm to his demand for a title shot against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, and is prepared to retire if the UFC doesn’t grant him the chance, according to his manager, ali Abdelaziz.
Gaethje, 36, initially stated his willingness to hang up his gloves if he wasn’t next in line for a title fight back in June, following a dominant performance.Abdelaziz confirmed that stance remains unchanged.
“Nothing changed. Justin’s sticking to his gun,” Abdelaziz stated. “I support him one hundred percent.It’s the right thing to do [to] give him a title fight. The body of work Justin has done for the UFC-I think at least [the UFC] can do for him, give him a title shot against Ilia Topuria.”
Gaethje most recently secured a hard-fought victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March, a rematch of a previous thrilling encounter. he has won three of his last four fights, establishing himself as a top contender in the lightweight division. https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/03/09/justin-gaethje-vs-rafael-fiziev-ufc-313-result-fan-favorites-deliver-in-back-and-forth-rematch-at-ufc-313/
The potential for Gaethje to retire adds another layer of intrigue to the lightweight title picture, as the UFC weighs its options for Topuria’s first defense of the belt.