Manager: Chimaev's lungs not 100% after COVID-19 battle

Khamzat Chimaev withdrew from his fight with Leon Edwards due to a slow recovery from COVID-19, his manager revealed Wednesday.

"Khamzat had coronavirus and when he went back to gym, his lungs did not recover 100%," Ali Abdelaziz said in a statement to Brett Okamoto of ESPN. "He needs time for his lungs to recover, and right now it's about taking that necessary time."

Chimaev, the UFC's biggest breakout star in 2020, was set for a highly-anticipated bout with Edwards on Jan. 20, 2021, before calling off the fight Tuesday. The tilt was previously postponed from Dec. 19 when Edwards tested positive for COVID-19.

After learning his opponent was off the January card, Edwards tweeted his desire to fight a replacement on the same date. "Rocky" hasn't stepped inside the cage since July 2019 and was one of the highest-profile fighters not to see action in 2020.

Chimaev, 26, finished all three of his UFC opponents this year inside of two rounds and owns a 9-0 professional record.