UFC rising star Khamzat Chimaev is NOT moving on from MMA, despite a cryptic IG post suggesting otherwise, this according to Dana White.
26-year-old Khamzat -- one of the hottest rising stars in the sport (9-0 record) -- has been battling COVID since January 2021 ... and he's still suffering from symptoms.
In fact, Khamzat's manager said the fighter was even hospitalized due to some pretty serious symptoms at one point.
Fast-forward to Monday night ... when Khamzat went to Instagram and posted an apparent farewell note to his fans.
From Khamzat Chimaev's Instagram (translation provided by the app): pic.twitter.com/Is1e8lkV6x
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 2, 2021
"I think I’m done," Khamzat said ... "Yes, I know that I didn’t take the belt, but this is not the most important victory in this life. It may upset you, but my heart and body tell me everything.
He also posted a photo of a blood-spattered bathroom sink with the caption, "The main thing is I do not know what this disease is but it is not easily outlived."
But, Dana White says he spoke with Khamzat -- who's currently in Las Vegas -- and he's not buying the retirement talk.
"When he got here, the doctors took care of him, and they put him on prednisone, which is a nasty f**king steroid,” White told MMA Junkie.
"So he’s on prednisone, and he’s supposed to be taking this thing and chilling, relaxing, and letting himself recover. He went in and f**king trained today, felt like s**t, and got super emotional and posted that."
“He’s not supposed to be training, but you know, this guy’s a savage. He wants to fight like every f**king weekend, and now he can’t even train, so he just got emotional and posted that, but he ain’t quitting.”
White told MMA Junkie he still expects Khamzat to fight in June -- as long as he follows his doctor's orders.