UFC News: Rising MMA Star To Get Medical Treatment for COVID-19 In US

Up-and-coming UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is set to receive medical treatment for lingering effects of COVID-19 in the United States.

According to a report by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Chimaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz shared that the UFC is flying the undefeated contender to Las Vegas to get medical attention.

“The UFC is flying Khamzat Chimaev into Las Vegas today, per his manager Ali Abdelaziz. He'll receive medical care in the U.S. for lingering effects of Covid,” Okamoto said in a tweet.

The 26-year old Chimaev contracted the dreaded virus in November 2020, just weeks before he was scheduled to face top 10-ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards.

Just days later, it was revealed that Edwards also tested positive for the virus, and the fight was ultimately postponed to January 20th.

A week later, it was announced that Chimaev would once again be withdrawing from the Edwards fight as he continued to battle the lingering effects of his prior bout with COVID-19.

The Chimaev-Edwards bout was again rescheduled for March 13th, serving as the main event for UFC Fight Night 187 in Las Vegas.

In early February, UFC president Dana White announced that Chimaev was once again forced to withdraw from the Edwards bout for the same reason.

Prior to his COVID-19 diagnosis, Chimaev was having a breakout year in the UFC. The Russian-born Swede made his UFC debut in July 2020, and he was coming in having won all of his first six professional contests by stoppage.

Chimaev continued his winning ways inside the Octagon, choking out John Philips in his debut and then stopping Rhys McKee by way of first-round TKO just ten days later.

Chimaev’s final outing for 2020 saw him knock out Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds to push his record to 9-0.

“Abdelaziz said he hopes Khamzat can fight by June, but long-term health is the top priority,” Okamoto added.