Dana White confirms Chimaev is in UFC 333 conversation but no bout finalised

Dana White has confirmed that Khamzat Chimaev is in the frame for UFC 333, scheduled for October 24 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, though the UFC CEO stressed that no bout has been finalised for the former middleweight champion.

White addressed Chimaev’s future following Week 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series 2026, after being asked about a post on X in which “Borz” publicly lobbied for a return to the Octagon. “What are we waiting for? I want to fight,” Chimaev wrote, tagging White directly.

“I didn’t see it,” White said. “Yeah, I mean, he’s always in conversation to fight. The whole roster is. I mean, everybody, in a perfect world, everybody fights three times a year.”

Chimaev lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland earlier this year in what was the first defeat of his professional career. He initially floated the idea of moving up to light heavyweight in the aftermath, but has since shifted his focus to securing a rematch with Strickland.

Fitting Chimaev onto the UFC 333 card may prove difficult. The event already carries two title bouts: Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight championship against Movsar Evloev, while Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili meet in a bantamweight trilogy. With a main card already described as stacked, there is limited space for an additional high-profile booking, let alone another title fight.

Whether Chimaev lands on the Abu Dhabi card or is pushed to a later date, White’s comments suggest the undefeated-until-recently Swede remains a priority for the promotion — just not necessarily on its own timeline.