Manager: Khamzat Chimaev retirement rumors 'absolutely not true'

Field Level Media|published: 06/17/2024, 2:02pm EDT

Apr 9, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (blue gloves) after a fight against Gilbert Burns (red gloves) during UFC 273 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Khamzat Chimaev's manager shot down retirement rumors after the fighter withdrew due to an illness from this Saturday's UFC on ABC 6 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who was reportedly hospitalized, pulled out of the marquee match against Robert Whittaker (25-7, 16-5). He will be replaced by middleweight contender Ikram Aliskerov (15-1, 2-0).

Chimaev, 30, has fought just once in the past two years, fueling speculation about his possible retirement.

"It's absolutely not true," manager Majdi Shammas told MMA Junkie on Monday. "We're planning on getting to the bottom of this situation, the problems. He will be back."

Chimaev broke his silence on the situation with a post on Instagram.

"We always plan something but Allah has his own plans for us!" he wrote on Monday.

Chimaev's most recent fight was a majority decision against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last October.

--Field Level Media