Despite not appearing on the coveted UFC 300 card, rumors suggest Israel Adesanya’s return to the octagon could see him lock horns with Khamzat Chimaev.
‘The Last Stylebender’ previously confirmed he would be taking a break from the sport but with UFC 300 approaching, many expected to see him feature. A title grudge match against Dricus Du Plessis or a trilogy for 205 lbs gold against Alex Pereira were potential matchups for Adesanya, but reports are claiming he now has a different opponent lined up.
On February 20, Kingdom Arena leaked what many believed to be a huge middleweight affair between Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev. The company posted a ticket link for the bout, which matches the UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia.
‼️Israel Adesanya vs Khamzat Chimaev MW Bout 6/23 🇸🇦
* Rumors about this matchup are not confirmed. We’ve reached out to both camps.* pic.twitter.com/gNsXfOlLph
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) February 20, 2024
Just hours after the rumors dropped, they were put to bed by UFC CEO Dana White who confirmed the post was fake.
White went on to attack MMA media for their involvement in building hype for a fight that hadn’t been spoken about by the organization. Clearly upset at those involved…
