Dana White Responds to Concerns About Khamzat Chimaev’s Potential Championship Reign

UFC President Dana White has countered claims made by UFC legend Din Thomas, who suggested that Khamzat Chimaev winning a middleweight title would be detrimental to the organization, according to reports Wednesday.

Chimaev’s reliability has been questioned in recent years due to recurring health issues that led to his withdrawal from multiple UFC events. He seemingly resolved these issues by changing his coaching staff.

Despite Chimaev’s resurgence, Din Thomas argued that a Chimaev championship would be a ‘disaster’ for the UFC. This assertion has surprised many fans, given Chimaev’s impressive record and status as a top competitor.

Dana White addressed Thomas’s statement, expressing enthusiasm for Chimaev’s upcoming fight. When questioned about the possibility of Chimaev being an inactive champion, White dismissed the concern.

“I’m really excited for the fight; the main event should be unbelievable, and probably the Fight of the Night, and we haven’t been in Chicago in a long time,” White stated after Dana White’s Contender Series.

“No (I’m not worried that Chimaev will be an inactive champion),” he added.

Chimaev is scheduled to face South African middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago. Khamzat Chimaev boasts an unblemished 14-0 record since turning professional five years ago.

Du Plessis has also demonstrated strong performances recently, securing a victory over Sean Strickland in their UFC 312 rematch in February and achieving a fourth-round submission against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.