Dec 14, 2024; Tampa, Florida, UNITED STATES; UFC CEO Dana White watches the fight between Cub Swanson (red gloves) and Billy Quarantillo (blue gloves) at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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Dana White Gives His Take On Khamzat Chimaev’s Chances Of Fighting At UFC 321!

The UFC world moves fast, but Khamzat Chimaev might be moving even faster! Most fighters who just went through a grueling five round title fight would be thinking about vacation time and recovery. They would want to heal up, spend time with family, and maybe hit the beach somewhere tropical. But Chimaev isn’t most fighters, and his mindset after winning the middleweight championship at UFC 319 proves exactly why he’s so dangerous.

Chimaev’s performance against Dricus Du Plessis was nothing short of spectacular. He completely dominated the South African champion through superior wrestling and ground control, landing over 500 strikes and securing 12 takedowns in the process. The scorecards told the whole story with three identical 50-44 scores that left no doubt about who won that night. But what really caught everyone’s attention wasn’t just how he won, but what he said afterward. Before the belt was even around his waist, Chimaev was already eyeballing UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi as his next opportunity to defend his new title.

Dana White Shows Interest In Khamzat Chimaev’s Abu Dhabi Return

Dana White has seen plenty of eager fighters in his time running the UFC, but even he seemed impressed by Chimaev’s immediate readiness. When reporters asked White about the new champion’s ambitious timeline for returning to action, the UFC boss didn’t shoot down the idea completely. Instead, he gave Chimaev’s request some serious consideration, especially since the proposed venue would be Abu Dhabi.

“I just had a kid fight Tuesday and wanted to turn around and come here. Abu Dhabi I would definitely consider.”

🚨 Dana White says he’ll “definitely” consider booking Khamzat Chimaev at #UFC321 on October 25th

“I just had a kid fight Tuesday and wanted to turn around and come here. Abu Dhabi I would definitely consider.” 👀👀pic.twitter.com/BqybLa1RWh
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 17, 2025

UFC 321 is scheduled for October 25th at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, which happens to be Chimaev’s adopted home base. The guy has embraced the UAE as his fighting home and proudly represents the country whenever he steps into the octagon. Fighting there would be like a homecoming celebration for the new champion, and the crowd would absolutely go wild for him. White seemed to acknowledge this connection when he said he would “definitely consider” putting Chimaev on that card.

Of course, there are practical concerns that come with such a quick turnaround between fights. Even though Chimaev claimed he came out of the Du Plessis fight without any injuries, five rounds takes a toll on any human body. The real question is whether the UFC can find a worthy opponent for Chimaev on such short notice. The middleweight division has several contenders who could potentially step up, but putting together a title fight requires careful planning and promotion. Either way, Chimaev has made his intentions crystal clear. He’s ready to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. That’s the kind of attitude that makes champions legendary, and it’s exactly why White is seriously considering giving him what he wants.

(Image Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images)

Dana White

Khamzat Chimaev

UFC 319

UFC 321

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!