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Khamzat Chimaev plans to return to the octagon in July and will prepare for it with a unique training style.
After Chimaev was forced to leave his main event on March 13 against Leon Edwards due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, he announced his retirement from the sport. However, on Tuesday he announced that he was returning. According to his manager Ali Abdelaziz, he also wants Neil Magny to return.
“He’s probably going to start training in the middle of April, and is looking to fight in the beginning of July,” Abdelaziz told ESPN about Khamzat Chimaev’s fighting future. “He’s still getting medical treatment on a daily basis, but he is doing much better. Neil Magny is the guy we have in mind as an opponent, but let’s see what happens.”
While Khamzat Chimaev’s health is priority number one, Abdelaziz believes his fighter is ready to return. He is healthy again and will train with other fighters as part of a special training program in preparation for his return.
“I think a lot of us don’t truly know what these young fighters go through,” Abdelaziz said about Chimaev. “It’s impossible to live inside their heads and inside their bodies, and sometimes they say things out of frustration or they are just mad they can’t do what they love to do. Khamzat has been doing this all his life, so he’s almost felt crippled not being able to train, but he’s healthy now and he’s going to start training.
“I was talking to him this week and he even said he’s going to be swimming with alligators and sharks,” Abdelaziz continued about Khamzat Chimaev’s unique training. “Doing movement with these creatures, as part of a special training program.”
For Khamzat Chimaev, fighting Neil Magny makes sense. He is in the top ten, and if he wins, he could make it to the top five welterweight contenders and move up the welterweight rankings.