Khamzat Chimaev. The name is still relatively new to the world of MMA, but it also just happens to be the name of perhaps the most talked about fighter in recent months.
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Who is Khamzat Chimaev?
The Russian-born, Swedish mixed martial artist made his UFC debut at Fight Night 172 at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi.
Headlining the preliminary card, Khamzat Chimaev made quick work of his opponent, defeating him via submission in Round 2. He demanded to fight again, stating he wanted to ‘smash everybody.’ UFC President Dana White obliged his request.
WATCH: Chimaev’s knockout of Rhys McKee.
Appearances in the UFC
Khamzat Chimaev would compete again at UFC Fight Night 174, just a few days later. Not only was it an extremely tight turnaround, he also fought in a different weight class. The outcome was the same – a complete mauling. Khamzat defeated Rhys McKee in the first round via TKO, landing 57 strikes to McKee’s 0.
The hype quickly rose and Khamzat was then double-booked. He was scheduled to fight both UFC veteran Gerald Meerschaert, followed by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Damien Maia. Some saw this as disrespectful to Meerschaert, booking Khamzat to fight soon after their octagon meeting.
It turned out to be a smart move. At UFC Vegas 11, Khamzat took out GM3 with one punch in 17 seconds. Come to find out, Russian has incredible submission skills and punching power.
Making a name for himself
The MMA world took note and, like always, Khamzat Chimaev demanded more opponents. His call outs have become a bit infamous. Calling out the likes of the supposedly retired Conor McGregor, to current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He has only fought in the UFC three times, but many fans already wouldn’t be opposed to him facing a top-five contender. Everyone is waiting to see who can derail this train, or becomes his next victim.
The Damien Maia matchup is still in the works, so we will have to wait to see how that turns out. Though, it is completely possible Khamzat fights before that. He has proven he is truly ready anytime, anywhere and against anyone.
This story has been updated with a profile video about Khamzat Chimaev.