Khamzat Chimaev’s head BJJ coach, Alan “Finfou” Nascimento, recently weighed in on why fans will never witness “Borz” vs. Islam Makhachev.
Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, is expected to make his first title defense post-Ramadan 2026. He recently had minor foot surgery and was hence on the sidelines. The Chechen-born Emirati plans to move up to light heavyweight following one successful defense of his 185-pound strap.
Pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev, on the other hand, captured the welterweight throne last year at UFC 322 and with that became a two-division champion. He is also expected to enter the octagon post-Ramadan 2026 to make his first title defense.
A Khamzat Chimaev vs. Islam Makhachev bout will never happen due to many reasons
Given the different weight classes they compete in and the size difference between Khamzat Chimaev and Islam Makhachev, it’s highly unlikely that they will ever fight each other.
Hence, fans may never get to witness Makhachev with his elite sambo trying to counter Chimaev’s wrestling, a stylistic clash that is incredible to imagine.
Apart from the difference in weight classes and size, there’s also a deeper bond between them. Khamzat Chimaev is Chechen, while Islam Makhachev is from Dagestan. Given personal ties and the relationship between their countries, it is unlikely that the two would ever want to lock horns.
Besides that, Chimaev wants to move up to 205 pounds and attain two-division glory soon, a feat Islam Makhachev already achieved last year when he dethroned Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.
That being said, a potential Chimaev vs. Makhachev superfight would ultimately be dubbed as a brother-vs-brother showdown, something the two UFC champs would likely never sign up for, as ‘they don’t want to open the door to any conflict between their people.’
Discussing why the two will never fight each other, Khamzat Chimaev’s head BJJ coach, Alan “Finfou” Nascimento, told MMA TODAY:
They respect each other, they know each other, but they don’t train together. It also involves religion, which is very important in their culture. I live in a Muslim country, and I know how it is, and I don’t think it would actually happen… It would be easier for Khamzat to move up than to go down.” (49:14)
Due to a very similar reason, “Borz” wants to avoid defending his middleweight title against Dagestan-born fighter Nassourdine Imavov, who is the No. 2-ranked 185-pounder.
“The Sniper” also feels the same way, but at the end of the day, if the UFC wants, they will have to face off in 2026.
