Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev has a close relationship with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Chimaev was given a Mercedes-Benz by Kadyrov, which he crashed months later.
Khamzat Chimaev in a file photo [Image- Twitter@UFC]

Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev was born on May 1, 1994. He is a Swedish professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Welterweight category (UFC). He formerly participated in the Brave Combat Federation. Chimaev is a three-time Swedish National champion in wrestling. He is currently ranked third in the UFC welterweight rankings as of April 12, 2022.

NameKhamzat Khizarovich Chimaev
D.O.BMay 1, 1994
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight81 kg
OccupationMixed Martial Artist
Professional Debut2015
WifeName not known
NicknamesBorz (Chechen: "Wolf")

Background

Chimaev was born in the hamlet of Gvardeyskoye in today’s Chechnya, which was the de facto autonomous Chechen Republic of Ichkeria at the time, and began wrestling at the age of five. He purportedly earned a bronze medal in the junior category at the Russian National Championships. He moved to Sweden with his mother and older brother in 2013, when he was 18 years old.

Early Career

Wrestling

Chimaev wrestled at many clubs in Sweden after moving there, notably BK Athén. Chimaev, regarded as one of the top freestyle wrestlers in the country, won gold medals at the Swedish Freestyle National Championships at 86 kilos in 2016 and 2017, and 92 kg in 2018. Chimaev has had a string of great performances in the competition, establishing an overall record of 12-0, which includes three pins, seven technical falls, and a total score of 105 points, while only surrendering two. Chimaev has participated in several judo events as well as four combat sambo battles. Chimaev defeated fellow UFC contender Jack Hermansson in a freestyle wrestling fight on November 19, 2021, at Sweden-based Bulldog Fight Night 9.

MMA

Chimaev began MMA training when he was 23 years old. He trains with three-time UFC Light Heavyweight Championship contenders Alexander Gustafsson, Ilir Latifi, and Reza Madadi, among others, at Allstar Training Center in Stockholm. During a press conference in June 2019, Gustafsson (one of his major training partners) informed a Swedish reporter that Chimaev was one of the finest fighters he had ever trained with.

Chimaev competed in three amateur MMA fights between September 2017 and April 2018. The first came against eventual IMMAF World Champion Khaled Laallam, whom he submitted in the second round. He won his next two amateur fights by submission and technical knockout, finishing his amateur career with a 3-0 record.

Chimaev made his pro debut on May 26, 2018, at International Ring Fight Arena 14, against Gard Olve Sagen. He won by technical knockout in the second round. Chimaev’s next bout was against Ole Magnor at Fight Club Rush 3 on August 18, 2018. He won by submission late in the first round with a rear naked choke.

Chimaev signed with the Middle Eastern company Brave Combat Federation after his first two professional fights in Sweden. On November 16, 2018, he was set to make his promotional debut against Benjamin Bennett at Brave CF 18. Bennett, however, withdrew from the fight and was replaced by unbeaten prospect Marko Kisi. Chimaev won the fight in the first round via technical knockout after dropping his opponent with a left hand.

Chimaev had a tight turnaround for his next bout, taking on Sidney Wheeler on short notice at Brave CF 20 on 22 December 2018, replacing an injured Leon Aliu. He won by technical knockout 35 seconds into the first round. On April 19, 2019, he faced Ikram Aliskerov at Brave CF 23. Chimaev made his welterweight debut in this fight. He won by knockout in the first round after landing an uppercut. This performance earned him the Knockout of the Night title from Brave.

On 4 October 2019, at Brave CF 27, he faced Mzwandile Hlongwa in his fourth promotional bout. Chimaev won via submission in the second round. Chimaev was set to face Jarrah Al-Selawe for the BCF Welterweight Championship on April 18, 2020, at Brave CF 37, the promotion’s inaugural event in Chimaev’s homeland of Stockholm, Sweden. However, because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the event was postponed, and the fight was canceled completely after Chimaev signed up with the UFC instead.

UFC Career

At UFC on ESPN 13: Kattar vs. Ige, Khamzat Chimaev made his UFC debut against John Phillips. Chimaev dominated Philips and submitted him through Brabo Choke in the second round to receive a Performance of the Night Bonus. Chimaev’s next bout came ten days after his promotional debut. He faced Rhys McKee at UFC 14 on ESPN. Chimaev, as in his previous bout, used his intensity to overpower his opponent and knocked him out in the first round through TKO (punches).

After 56 days, he returned to the Octagon to face Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Fight Night 178. Chimaev demolished Gerlad in class Chimaev style and knocked him out in 17 seconds. Chimaev briefly declared his retirement from MMA in February 2021 as a result of encountering COVID, which caused some lung troubles. Later, he reversed his decision and returned to the UFC in 2021 to face Jingliang Li at UFC 267. Khamzat outgunned Jiang and beat him by technical submission in the first round. Khamzat presently has a total strike landed to an absorbed ratio of 254:2 as a result of his overwhelming performance in his UFC matches.

On April 9, 2022, Chimaev faced Gilbert Burns in UFC 273. Chimaev won by unanimous decision, his first decision victory in his career. The Battle of the Night award was given to this fight. He also won the Crypto.com Fan Bonus of the Night title for the battle. Chimaev was set to meet Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 279 on September 10, 2022. Chimaev weighed in at 178.5 pounds, which was seven and a half pounds over the welterweight non-title bout limit.

Chimaev was withdrawn from his main event meeting with Diaz due to a weight loss and instead faced Kevin Holland in the co-main event at a 180-pound catchweight. Holland was previously scheduled to fight Daniel Rodriguez at 180 pounds on the card. Chimaev won the fight in the first round with a D’Arce Choke.

Championships and Accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
    Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Gilbert Burns
    Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. John Phillips, Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert, and Li Jingliang
    Record for fastest consecutive wins in Modern UFC history (ten days)
    Record for quickest three-fight win streak in Modern UFC history (66 days)
    2020 UFC Honors Debut of the Year
  • Crypto.com
    Fan Bonus of the Night vs. Gilbert Burns
  • Brave Combat Federation
    Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Ikram Aliskerov
  • Nordic MMA Awards – MMAviking.com
    2018 Prospect of the Year
    2020 Male fighter of the Year
  • MMAjunkie.com
    2020 September Knockout of the Month vs. Gerald Meerschaert
    2020 Newcomer of the Year
  • MMA Fighting
    2020 “Breakout Fighter of the Year”
  • CombatPress.com
    2020 “Breakthrough Fighter of the Year”
  • BT Sport
    2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Freestyle wrestling

  • Swedish Wrestling Federation
    2018 Swedish Championships champion, 92 kg
    2016 Swedish Championships champion, 86 kg
    2016 Solacup Championships champion, 86 kg
    2015 Hammarslaget Championships champion, 86 kg
    2015 Swedish Championships champion, 86 kg
    2015 Lilla Mälarcupen Championships champion, 86 kg

MMA Record

12 matches 12 wins 0 losses
By knockout 6 0
By submission 5 0
By decision 1 0

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