Brewers place Brandon Woodruff on IL with shoulder inflammation following Thursday’s early exit
Brandon Woodruff placed on 15-day IL due to shoulder inflammation.
Khamzat Chimaev is open to a boxing match with Conor McGregor but has no plans for a permanent switch to boxing. He is preparing for his first title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Khamzat Chimaev has no plans to make a permanent switch to boxing, but there is one potential opponent he’d step into the ring for.
The UFC middleweight champion is closing in on his first title defence, nine months after taking the belt from Dricus du Plessis last August.
He’ll put his title on the line against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9. The outspoken American is aiming to become a two-time champion in the division.
Although Chimaev remains focused on Strickland, he did recently talk about his future outside MMA. One thing that caught his eye was a possible boxing match against one of the biggest names the sport has ever seen.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Chimaev’s win over Du Plessis at UFC 319 was built on control, holding dominant positions for more than 20 minutes. Even so, the champ has never doubted his striking ability.
The unbeaten Chechen famously needed just 17 seconds to knock out Gerald Meerschaert early in his UFC run, and he’d be interested in testing those hands again against someone who knows all about quick finishes.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his return at UFC 328, Chimaev brought up the idea of facing Conor McGregor under Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing banner.
“I’m not going to move over to boxing,” Chimaev said. “I will be forever a UFC fighter.
“Maybe if Zuffa (Boxing) gives the chance, box with Conor, or if Conor wants to accept that. It would be nice. Why not?
“Conor is a good boxer, one of the best boxers in the UFC,” he continued. “It would be nice to try and go fight that guy. Good money, too. He talks better than Sean Strickland. It would be fun.”
No, Khamzat Chimaev has no plans to make a permanent switch to boxing.
Khamzat Chimaev's next fight is scheduled for May 9 at UFC 328 against Sean Strickland.
Khamzat Chimaev is defending his UFC middleweight championship title.
Brandon Woodruff placed on 15-day IL due to shoulder inflammation.
Inoue vs Nakatani: Who will win the super bantamweight title on May 2?
Analyzing the Giants' disappointing start to the 2026 MLB season.
This weekend, four European football leagues could crown their champions. The excitement builds as teams approach the final stretch of the season.
Milan's Youssouf Fofana could be heading to the Premier League after a strong season.
Chicago Bears have big plans for sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
McGregor is lined up for a return at UFC 329 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas this year.
The Irish star hasn’t fought since 2021 and has only made four appearances since crossing over to box Floyd Mayweather back in 2017.
A number of fighters have tried pushing for crossover bouts with McGregor since then, but Dana White doesn’t seem interested and has already dismissed any talk of UFC fighters making appearances in Zuffa Boxing events.
Read more: