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UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has provided an update on his mixed martial arts future and when he wants to return to the cage.

At UFC 328 earlier this year, Khamzat Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight championship. He lost to Sean Strickland, the same man who was able to pull off a great upset and win the belt against Israel Adesanya a few years back.

RELATED: Khamzat Chimaev rules out two opponents due to injury: “I want to come back as soon as possible”

Ever since that defeat, Khamzat Chimaev’s future has been up in the air. Some have suggested he needs to make the move up to the light heavyweight division, mainly because of the weight cut. Others, though, feel like one more crack at Strickland could lead him back to the title.

In a recent interview, Khamzat Chimaev provided an open and honest assessment of what we can expect from him for the remainder of the year.

Khamzat Chimaev discusses his future

“If nothing happens in October or December, I’ll take a little break,” Chimaev told Adam Zubayraev on The Hustle Show. “I have a lot of injuries that I need to get treated. I go into every fight with some kind of problem. People already know that.

“I just get sick often. I don’t have half of my thyroid gland. I’ve been under anesthesia seven times and had six surgeries. The Almighty has ordained this for me. I still have to live my life.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

Khamzat has struggled with injuries throughout the course of his mixed martial arts career, and that’s no secret. So, if he’s going to come back, and he wants to be at 100%, perhaps taking the rest of the year off is the right move. The middleweight division, meanwhile, will continue to move forward under the guidance of Sean Strickland.

When do you want to see Khamzat compete again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

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