It’s starting to look like the highly-anticipated bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards just isn’t meant to be.
That’s because for the third time in as many months, their scheduled fight has been cancelled, with Chimaev forced off the upcoming March card due to lingering Covid-19 symptoms.
The Dagestani went 3-0 in his first year in the UFC in 2020, eventually earning the title of the company’s ‘Breakout Fighter of the Year”. The brutal way he disposed of his first three opponents earned the previously unknown fighter a shot against established top-5 welterweight Edwards. However, the flight, which was initially booked for December 19th was postponed after Edwards contracted Covid.
After being rescheduled for January, Covid then struck again, forcing Chimaev out of the fight after he also caught the virus. After the fight was booked for a third time for next month, Chimaev has now had to pull out once more, and reports suggest the Russian’s struggling health-wise due to the after effects of the virus.
Chimaev’s withdrawal was confirmed by UFC President Dana White, who revealed the devastating news to ESPN. “Chimaev’s out again,” White told Brett Okamoto. “It’s starting to look like this thing’s cursed, man. We don’t know what we’re gonna do with the fight right now, but Edwards wants to fight still, so we’re gonna try and find him another opponent as he’s waited for this one long enough.” This Chimaev vs Edwards thing is starting to look like a proposed bout involving another Dagenstani that in the end just wasn’t meant to be. Let’s hope not! With Chimaev only 24-years-old and in the prime of his athletic career, it’s scary to learn he’s having such a hard time overcoming the virus. We wish him all the best and hope he has a speedy recovery.
