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Tag: Khamzat Chimaev

  • Israel Adesanya: Khamzat Chimaev Is Not Relevant

    Israel Adesanya has issued a response/non-response to the ever-querulous Khamzat Chimaev.

    At UFC 271, Israel Adesanya turned in another successful middleweight title defense when he defeated Robert Whittaker for the second time. His performance was met with mixed reviews, but there was nothing complimentary at all coming from rising star Khamzat Chimaev.

    Chimaev began his UFC career with an eye on both the welterweight and middleweight championships. When he returned to action in October 2021, he had committed to focusing solely on the welterweight division.

    But Borz just cannot help himself. He is always hungry when looking at gold on other warriors’ plates, especially when the owner has competed in a division that is familiar to him.

    Chimaev Says Adesanya Would Be “Easy” Work, Adesanya Responds

    UFC 243 takeaways: Adesanya's perfect night and next fight with Costa
    Israel Adesanya

    After Adesanya’s UFC 271 victory, in a since-removed tweet due to violating Twitter rules, Chimaev posted:

    “@stylebender easy money for me, 0 wrestling. 1 round I’m gonna kill him.”

    When told about Chimaev’s tweet at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Adesanya responded with one word, two letters: “OK.”

    In a sit-down interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Adesanya would have more to say—about why he doesn’t have more to say.

    “I mean, he’s not really relevant right now,” Adesanya explained. “I don’t have to take him seriously till I have to take him seriously. Like, his last fight, I was impressed with. I was like, ‘Yo, that guy’s good.’ But there’s levels. So we’ll see how he does with Gilbert [Burns]. And he’s only fought like one middleweight fight that I’ve seen. And I’m just like, ‘Who has he fought?’”

    Khamzat Chimaev is currently 10-0 as a professional and 4-0 in the UFC. He is also 4-0 in career middleweight bouts. His lone middleweight victory in the UFC came against Gerald Meerschaert via one single punch. His only win over a ranked opponent was in a welterweight contest against Li Jingliang at UFC 267.

    Still, Adesanya acknowledges that Chimaev has talent. Even with the relatively small sample size, that would be hard for anyone to deny. But at the same time, the reigning middleweight king feels “Borz” has a lot more to prove until he is worthy of his attention.

    “And he can beat a lot of middleweights, I’ll tell you that much—a lot of top-level middleweights,” Adesanya said. “But I don’t have to take him seriously until I have to take him seriously.”

    As Adesanya alluded, Chimaev is currently expected to fight Gilbert Burns next, but that bout has not yet been announced. Adesanya is expected to fight next this summer against Jared Cannonier.

    What are your thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s comments about Khamzat Chimaev?

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s 2022 Plans Made Clear After Recent Comments

    Khamzat Chimaev’s 2022 road map has been laid out after “Borz” shared his next two desired fights.

    It is no secret that Khamzat Chimaev is always hungry for a fight. In 2020, he devoured three opponents in two months, thus having his name constantly regurgitated by the MMA community as the breakout star of the year.

    Since then, aside from his lone bout against Li Jingliang at UFC 267, Chimaev has had trouble booking fights due to health-related issues and, according to UFC President Dana White and himself, nearly just as much because of the collective reluctance among welterweights to step into the cage with this animal.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    For Chimaev’s part, other people’s tardiness to the party hasn’t stopped him from creating a guest list for his 2022 schedule. All roads lead to Kamaru Usman, as Chimaev has made no secret that he would like to fight the Nigerian-American for the welterweight title sooner rather than later.

    But what about before then? For weeks now, Chimaev has been linked with Gilbert Burns for a potential fight, with the latest reports citing UFC 273 in April as the targeted date. But not unlike the first time there was chatter of the two men fighting one another, things have gone quiet as fans eagerly await an official fight announcement.

    So what exactly is the holdup? Borz is just as much in the dark as the general public.

    “He is number two in the welterweight rankings. All those numbers mean nothing. To be honest, I don’t see a real challenge in him,” Chimaev said of Burns in a recent interview with RT Sport. “We’ll see, everything can happen in a fight. But I am confident as usual… I don’t understand why I still don’t have a fight scheduled and the contract is not signed yet. The dude says something about April 9 on the internet, like, do you have your visa? I have my visa.”

    If Chimaev gets his man and is locked in the Octagon with Burns, he already is leering beyond his current prey onto the winner of next month’s UFC 272 main event.

    “I think they will give us a great fight,” Chimaev said of the upcoming bout between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. “Masvidal is a slight favorite for me. But Colby is also a tough guy. He fights well. We’ll see. I think it’s 50/50. I don’t care which of them wins. I am fighting Burns now, then, after beating Burns, hopefully, I will fight the winner of Masvidal/Covington… I think the winner of our fight with Gilbert will fight the winner of Masvidal/Covington for the interim title or just for the number one contender spot.”

    Chimaev’s 2022 Road Map Routed Towards Gold

    Kamaru Usman
    Dana White Wraps UFC Welterweight Belt Around Kamaru Usman. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    With his next two targeted opponents laid out, the only question for Chimaev’s 2022 plans is whether or not he’ll have time to squeeze in UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. But make no mistake, “The Nigerian Nightmare” holds the ultimate prize that Borz is after, which makes him not only the top dog at welterweight but also Borz’s top prey.

    “So your trying to change weight before I come for you?. Don’t go anywhere I am coming! I smash you and Burns in 2 mins believe me! I’m THE KING here,” Chimaev recently tweeted at Usman upon hearing rumors of Usman moving up to light heavyweight.

    Chimaev should be happy to know that Usman has since reconsidered moving up to light heavyweight since Jan Blachowicz is no longer the division’s titleholder. So if Usman is able to retain the title over Leon Edwards in a bout expected to take place this summer and Chimaev is able to clean out Burns and the Masvidal/Covington winner, we may just be in line for a Usman/Chimaev showdown at year’s end.

    How do you think Khamzat Chimaev’s 2022 will play out?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Unhappy About Leaked Training Footage

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is far from amused at the recent footage of him training at the renowned Tiger Muay Thai gym in Phuket, Thailand.

    Having risen to prominence in the UFC with four dominant first-round finishes, including a submission victory over ranked welterweight Li Jingliang at UFC 267 last October, Chimaev is looking to contend for gold on MMA’s biggest stage soon.

    With that in mind, he’s continuing his pursuit of development and growth by training with some of the best in the game.

    Ahead of his first challenge of 2022, “Borz” has been training alongside the likes of UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev, interim bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan, 135-pound contender Marlon Moraes, Bellator Welterweight Champion Yaroslav Amosov, and ONE Championship kickboxers Chingiz Allazov and Roman Kryklia.

    He’s certainly not short of talented sparring partners during his time in Asia…

    Chimaev Discusses The Biggest “Mess” At Tiger Muay Thai

    While he’s working with some of the best MMA and Muay Thai coaches in the game during his stint in Thailand, the experience isn’t all positive for Chimaev. During a recent interview with RT Sport MMA, the #11-ranked UFC welterweight discussed the biggest issue at Tiger Muay Thai: the cameras.

    “It’s hard to keep any secrets here, everybody has a camera,” said Chimaev. “Every time I am doing pad work or rolling, everyone around starts filming. Kind of a mess here in the gym. I don’t get it.”

    While the host of professionals developing their trade at the gym is often publicized, Chimaev suggested the number of amateur fighters significantly outweighs the pros. With that, the Chechen-born Swede says, comes an incessant amount of filming, something the gym doesn’t restrict.

    “The thing is, there are much more amateur fighters around than pro fighters. They keep filming all the time,” added Chimaev. “They don’t understand that it’s a bad idea to film sparring sessions and post them. They don’t have any strict rules about filming. No such rules. It’s probably good for the gym. People make videos, post them on social media, and the gym becomes popular.

    “But as for our gym (Allstar Training Center), you can’t film there,” Chimaev continued. “We have a lot of videos from our gym, but nobody has ever posted them during the four years I have trained there. Here, nobody cares about it. I am busy with training, so I can’t take care of all those cameras around. It’s not good.”

    Describing just how bad the level of recording is at Tiger Muay Thai, Chimaev joked that he could drop a glove and a video of it would end up online. “Borz” suggested gyms must control filming in order to prevent out-worked sparring partners getting upset at leaked footage.

    “If I outwrestle a guy, he won’t be happy to see that footage online. I am a famous person. I may even drop a glove on the floor or jump; they post it right away, ‘Look, Khamzat Chimaev is jumping!’ When they tag me on Instagram, I see it all. Some guys who are on my level may get upset after all those videos get posted. Some guys are more skilful than others, so you have to control the cameras to not let your friends get upset,” concluded Chimaev. (Translated by RT Sport)

    Perhaps a prime example of the footage Chimaev is referring to came in the form of a recent video that showed him dropping a sparring partner with a vicious body shot. Seemingly to keep his development and progress close to his chest, and protect his training partners, Chimaev believes foootage such as that should remain private.

    One man who may be keeping a close eye on Chimaev’s progression at Tiger Muay Thai and any leaked footage is top-five contender Gilbert Burns. While nothing is confirmed, “Durinho” appears set to be the next man in the way of Chimaev’s rapid rise to the top.

    Given the above video, it appears Burns would do well to avoid too many shots to the body…

    Do you agree with Khamzat Chimaev? Should gyms control filming and prevent training leaks?

  • Nick Maximov Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev After Second UFC Win

    There may be a slew of UFC fighters who are against the idea of competing against Khamzat Chimaev, but Nick Maximov isn’t one of those guys.

    Maximov seized the moment in his second career UFC fight at UFC Vegas 47. In his first promotional co-main event opportunity, he earned a largely dominant win over Punahele Soriano in which he scored a series of takedowns throughout the fight.

    Maximov, a protege of Nick and Nate Diaz, wants tougher competition for his next Octagon appearance. At 24 years old, he’s widely regarded as one of the top middleweight prospects in the UFC.

    Despite being just two fights into his UFC career, he’s open to the idea of facing the rising star Chimaev. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Maximov promoted the idea of fighting Chimaev next.

    “I think so, too,” Maximov said when asked about a fight with Chimaev making sense. “Khamzat’s fighting all these little a** guys but I’ll like to fight him next. He tries to call out Nate and Nick, it’s like fight me then. We’re both in the same boat… but why are people scared of him, know what I’m saying? He hasn’t fought any wrestlers. He’s a wrestler, but he hasn’t fought any wrestlers. So I’m like, ‘What the fuck?”

    Maximov would then close with a final message for Chimaev.

    “Fight me next then, because he hasn’t fought any wrestlers. He’s fought MMA fighters and I’m a martial artist who can wrestle. I just made the record [for takedowns] in my second UFC fight. In my second UFC fight, I was the co-main event, so who else is doing that?”

    Chimaev is also undefeated in his professional MMA career and is coming off of another impressive finish over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. While nothing is set in stone just yet, he’s widely expected to face Gilbert Burns later this year.

    If the Burns fight falls through, Chimaev seems to have a willing opponent in Maximov. As showcased during his UFC debut win at UFC 266 and his lopsided victory on Dana White’s Contender Series, Maximov may present the type of grappling challenge that Chimaev hasn’t faced yet.

    Who do you want to see Nick Maximov fight next?

  • Quote: Chimaev/Burns Is A Meaningful Fight, Masvidal/Covington Isn’t

    Ali Abdelaziz has suggested the rumored fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns is much more “meaningful” for the welterweight division than the UFC 272 main event grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

    After the withdrawal of Max Holloway saw some re-shuffling for the third and fourth pay-per-views of the year, UFC 272 was left without its originally scheduled bantamweight and featherweight title fights, and in need of a new headliner.

    What better replacement than two former friends and teammates-turned bitter rivals hashing out their differences for five rounds?

    On March 5, fans will be treated to exactly that as former title challengers Covington and Masvidal look to settle their differences in a unique non-title main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYr6znYsr42/

    While the backstory and feud make this one of the most anticipated headliners of the year for fans and pundits, one man believes it has little effect on the 170-pound weight class.

    During an interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz, a renowned MMA manager, suggested that given both men are 0-2 against reigning champion Kamaru Usman, the UFC 272 main event lacks any real stakes in the context of the division. Instead, he believes one of his clients’ rumored next fight is the one to watch for at welterweight.

    Talk of a fight between rising star Chimaev and #2-ranked contender Burns has existed for a while now and has certainly intensified in recent weeks. Abdelaziz, who manages “Durinho” and used to work with “Borz,” believes that matchup is much more meaningful than the March PPV main event.

    “Listen, it doesn’t matter who Gilbert is gonna fight next. Gilbert, this is what he’s built for, he likes to fight. It can be anybody, Gilbert’s gonna put his hand up… If it’s Khamzat, Gilbert’s gonna fight Khamzat,” said Abdelaziz. “Great fight, I think it’s a great fight; one of the best. This is a meaningful fight. They’ve got the Masvidal and Colby (fight), I don’t think it’s a meaningful fight. I think Khamzat and Gilbert is a meaningful fight. Whoever wins can fight for the title. You’ve got the other two guys, they’re 0-2 against the champion.

    “I think (Chimaev vs. Burns) is a meaningful fight for the division,” added Abdelaziz. “Gilbert is a very good test. Gilbert (was) very close to becoming a champion. He’s the only guy to ever come close to even wobbling Kamaru or punching him… But I think if this fight happens, Gilbert is in. And I know Khamzat is probably in, too. Now it’s up to the UFC. They have to pull the trigger and make this fight happen.”

    Chimaev & Burns Seemingly Agreed To UFC 273 Clash

    Reports suggesting the UFC was targeting Chimaev’s fifth Octagon outing to be against Burns first emerged towards the back end of last year. While they initially pointed towards a January clash, talk seemed to disappear for a number of weeks, leading many to believe the promotion had gone in a different direction.

    But earlier this month, both the Brazilian and the Chechen-born Swede showed that the possibility of their booking was alive and well.

    In a story posted to Instagram by Chimaev, private messages exchanged between the two welterweight contenders appeared to show them agreeing to a fight on April 9, a date slated to host the UFC 273 pay-per-view.

    With a featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung already set for the event, as well as the long-awaited bantamweight unification showdown between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, the addition of Chimaev and Burns would certainly strengthen the PPV into one of the most stacked of the year so far.

    If the fight comes to fruition, who do you think will win, Gilbert Burns or Khamzat Chimaev?

  • Chimaev Blasts Usman After LHW Contemplations: “I’m The King Here”

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t want Kamaru Usman to go anywhere after his past idea of moving up to light heavyweight.

    Chimaev is awaiting his next opponent in the Octagon after a quick finish over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. He’s undefeated in his MMA career and has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the welterweight division.

    Usman recently alluded that he once considered a move up to 205 pounds to take on the then-champion, Jan Blachowicz, for the light heavyweight title. Blachowicz would go on to lose his belt to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267.

    Chimaev is knocking on the door of the welterweight title picture after a string of dominant wins. His most recent victory over Jingliang propelled him into the welterweight rankings.

    Usman’s comments about pursuing titles at multiple weight classes have irked Chimaev. In a recent tweet, Chimaev aimed at Usman for his previous comments.

    https://twitter.com/KChimaev/status/1486560064823463942?s=20

    “So your trying to change weight before I come for you?” Chimaev said. “Don’t go anywhere I am coming! I smash you and Burns in 2 mins believe me! I’m THE KING here.”

    Usman is expected to face Leon Edwards later this year in his next welterweight title defense. He’s coming off an electric 2021 in which he earned finishes over Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns, along with another decision win over Colby Covington.

    Chimaev’s starpower began to rise after an impressive 2020 in the Octagon. He earned three-straight finishes at both welterweight and middleweight, including two wins in 10 days.

    Usman has remained somewhat mysterious regarding his future in the UFC. He has hinted at a potential retirement after a few more fights in the Octagon and has also pitched a crossover fight against boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez.

    Chimaev and Burns have verbally agreed to fight in the spring, although nothing has been formally announced by the UFC. With a win over Burns, Chimaev could potentially land a future title shot and faceoff with Usman.

    How do you think a Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight would play out?

  • Watch: Khamzat Chimaev Drops Sparring Partner With A Body Shot

    Even away from the Octagon, rising UFC welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev continues to show the threat he poses to the rest of the 170-pound roster.

    Having returned to action last October at UFC 267 by brutally dominating and choking out Li Jingliang, Chimaev’s name is well and truly back on the agenda. With his dominance in the cage so far, which has seen him build an unblemished 4-0 UFC record that includes four finishes, many are touting “Borz” as a future champion.

    Despite being in-between fights, training footage from Chimaev’s ongoing stint at Thailand’s Tiger Muay Thai gym has continued to show why he’s regarded highly in all aspects of MMA.

    We’ve consistently seen his ability to rag-doll his opponents on the ground, and we even saw his knockout power in his third outing against Gerald Meerschaert, but how about the ability to land a crippling body shot?

    Given the way he dropped a partner in a recent sparring session, we can certainly check that off the list…

    Chimaev Trains With Fellow UFC Stars Ahead Of Rumored Burns Clash

    Expanding beyond his usual preparation at the Allstar Training Center in Stockholm, Sweden, Chimaev has been getting set for his next appearance in the Octagon at the renowned Tiger Muay Thai facility in Phuket, Thailand.

    There, the Chechen-born Swede has been training alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, from UFC stars Petr Yan, Rafael Fiziev, and Marlon Moraes, to undefeated Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov, and ONE Championship kickboxers Chingiz Allazov and Roman Kryklia.

    While Yan trains hard for his upcoming unification showdown with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 and Fiziev prepares for his February UFC Fight Night main event against former lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos, Chimaev has been putting in the work ahead of a rumored next clash against #2-ranked welterweight contender Gilbert Burns.

    With many believing “Borz” is just one big victory away from a shot at Kamaru Usman’s 170-pound gold, a win against “Durinho,” who fought for the belt last February and defeated top contender Stephen Thompson five months later, could well book Chimaev a date with “The Nigerian Nightmare.”

    Would you like to see Khamzat Chimaev face Gilbert Burns next?

  • Cannonier: Chimaev Looks Like The Second Coming Of McGregor

    UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier has described surging welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev as “the second coming of Conor McGregor.”

    In just four appearances in the Octagon, Chimaev has established himself as one of the hottest rising prospects in the UFC and a likely future champion. Not many have had as big an impact in as few outings as the Chechen-born Swede has.

    After three wins in a modern-UFC record space of just 66 days in 2020, Chimaev firmly cemented his status as a name to watch. Those victories bought such prominence and attention that he was even matched up with top contender Leon Edwards multiple times.

    After that matchup fell through and Chimaev was sent to the sidelines with a nasty bout of COVID-19, the 27-year-old’s charge was briefly stalled. But despite over a year away from the cage, “Borz” picked up where he left off last October at UFC 267.

    Against ranked-contender Li Jingliang, Chimaev showcased his dominance with a fourth UFC finish in as many fights. Inside the opening round, the Allstars Training Center product rag-dolled “The Leech” to the mat and choked him unconscious.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMv0dRopmj/

    From fans and pundits to UFC President Dana White and play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, many in the MMA community are extremely high on Chimaev. That includes current #3-ranked middleweight contender Cannonier.

    During an interview with LowKick MMA, “The Killa Gorilla” praised Chimaev’s perfect start on MMA’s biggest stage. The veteran even suggested he could be the “second coming” of the sport’s biggest superstar, former two-division UFC champion McGregor.

    “You know, (he’s a) hot prospect right now. Dana’s pretty hot on him, and from what he’s shown in the Octagon, the dude looks like the second coming of Conor McGregor,” said Cannonier. “But I don’t even like to make that comparison because he is his own self, he is his own man, and he’s doing his own thing. I tip my hat to the man. He’s doing a good job… If he comes up to ’85 that’d be cool too. The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned.”

    Chimaev Could Face A Former Title Challenger Next

    If Chimaev is to come close to reaching the heights of the “Notorious” irishman in the UFC, he’ll have to get past some top contenders on his way to 170-pound gold. The first of those challenges looks set to come against the #2-ranked Gilbert Burns.

    A matchup between “Borz” and “Durinho” was initially rumored for this month. After talk of it appeared to die down, a recent report and subsequent social media posts from both seemingly hint towards a meeting in the Octagon later this year.

    Chimaev, currently ranked #11 in the division, could secure a shot at Kamaru Usman’s welterweight title with a victory over Burns, who fell short of reaching the mountaintop at UFC 258 last February.

    Would you like to see Khamzat Chimaev face Gilbert Burns next?

  • Khamzat Chimaev: I’m More Brazilian Than Gilbert Burns

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is still waiting for his next booking in the Octagon, but the mental games have already begun with Gilbert Burns.

    Chimaev most recently defeated Li Jingliang at UFC 267, in arguably the most dominant performance of his career to date. He is undefeated in his professional career and has earned four-straight finishes in the UFC.

    Chimaev has remained active on social media as he awaits his next opponent. One name who has constantly been at the top of the discussion is Burns, a former title challenger who beat Stephen Thompson at UFC 264.

    Despite the two exciting welterweights not having any obvious bad blood between them, Chimaev is already making attempts to get into Burns’ head. During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chimaev aimed at his next potential adversary.

    “Everybody is talking about me, but nobody wants to fight with me because we kill everybody,” Chimaev said. “For me, it doesn’t matter. Gilbert Burns talked about Brazil.

    “I’m more Brazilian than him because my coach is Brazilian. I’m a blue belt under Alan ‘Finfou’ (Nascimento). I know many times my coach smashed (Burns), too, on the mats. We are going to choke him out. A ‘Finfou’ blue belt against a black belt. “

    “I like this guy, actually. He’s a funny, nice guy. I want to fight with him. But in war, brother, I can’t be nice with somebody. I want to eat everybody. Take my money. Take my belt. I’m so hungry. When I talk about fighters, I’m hungry. I hope I will fight in Brazil, as well. Nice country. Nice people.” (h/t MiddleEasy)

    The two sides had verbally agreed to fight in April, but it’s unclear whether or not that’ll come to fruition. If Chimaev and Burns seek a fight in Brazil, they may get their opportunity as the promotion plans a return to the country at UFC 274 in May.

    Both Chimaev and Burns have title ambitions, with Chimaev seeking his first title shot and Burns wanting revenge against Kamaru Usman. A formal fight booking could come sooner rather than later.

    How do you think a Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns fight would play out?

  • Gustafsson: Chimaev Has Knocked Teammates Out With Jabs In Training

    Three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson has revealed just how much power rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev has in his hands.

    It’s safe to say that not many prospects are as highly touted and talked about as Chimaev. It’s probably the case that in just four UFC outings, he’s already broken through the prospect status and emerged as legitimate contender at 170 pounds. That’s an incredible feat given he’s fought just once in the past year.

    In 2020, “Borz” established his name in emphatic fashion, recording three wins in just 66 days. In the space of just 10, he brutally dominated John Phillips and Rhys McKee on Fight Island. A couple of months later, he slept middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert.

    After a battle with COVID-19 stalled his rise, Chimaev picked up where he left off when he made his return last October at UFC 267. Against ranked contender Li Jingliang, the Chechen-born Swede re-railed his hype train by choking out “The Leech” inside the opening frame.

    Gustafsson Says Chimaev “Hits Like A Light Heavyweight”

    Chimaev’s potential seems to be through the roof. The promotion is evidently high on him, play-by-play lead Jon Anik highlighted him as the biggest question heading into 2022, and many believe he’s just one win away from a shot at Kamaru Usman’s welterweight gold.

    The #11-ranked contender’s hype is undoubtedly mostly down to his vicious and controlling wrestling game, which has seen him rag-doll three of his four opponents in the UFC to date. However, Chimaev’s KO of Meerschaert gave a glimpse of his striking abilities, something his teammate Gustafsson believes is just as dangerous as his ground game.

    Speaking during a recent interview with ESPN MMA, “The Mauler,” who trains with Chimaev at Stockholm’s Allstars Training Center, suggested “Borz” hits as hard as a 205lber. Proving context to his training partner’s power, Gustafsson revealed Chimaev has actually knocked people out with his jabs in the gym.

    “His striking… He hits like a light heavyweight. He hits hard. He’s very explosive. He boxes very fast with his hands, and with speed comes power and good precision,” said Gustafsson. “I’ve seen this guy knock people out with a jab in training. So, you need to keep your guard up when you spar with this guy.”

    If Chimaev is as well-rounded as Gustafsson suggests, a claim that’s hard to argue against given what we’ve seen from the Chechen-born Swede in the Octagon so far, it’s certainly a scary prospect for the rest of the welterweight division.

    While the rising star’s next opponent is yet to be announced, recent reports suggest he’ll be facing top-five contender Gilbert Burns in what will likely be a title eliminator. That matchup is apparently slated for UFC 273 on April 9. For those who still doubt Chimaev’s title credentials, an impressive performance against “Durinho” should convert them into believers.

    Given what we’ve heard from Gustafsson, perhaps Chimaev can knock Burns and Usman out in 2022 and secure his place on the welterweight throne. His teammates are certainly high on him, but it remains to be seen if he can prove them right against the elite at 170 pounds.

    Do you think Khamzat Chimaev has what it takes to knock Kamaru Usman out?

  • Watch: Khamzat Chimaev Restrained By Security At MMA Event

    Khamzat Chimaev was involved in an incident at an MMA event.

    According to several reports, Chimaev was sitting in the front row to cheer on one of his teammates. After the ref called the fight off, the Swede then jumped the rails to make his way toward the cage to protest the stoppage.

    Security was quick to get Chimaev and intervened, but a small scuffle did happen.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLTcsvQPm9c&ab_channel=MMAHotTakes

    The good news is, no one was hurt in the altercation, and security was able to calm Chimaev down rather quickly.

    The 10-0 Khamzat Chimaev is currently the 11th-ranked welterweight and is coming off a submission win over Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in the first round. It was his fourth win inside the Octagon as he also has a one-punch KO win over Gerald Meerschaert and stoppage wins over Rhys McKee and John Phillips in 10 days.

    Chimaev does not have his next fight booked, but many are hoping he gets a title shot sometime soon. As it stands, a bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 appears the most likely scenario.

    Chimaev has been considered one of the most feared men in the UFC. Dana White has claimed that other welterweights do not want to fight him, while Chael Sonnen believes he’s already psychologically defeated the entire division.

    “There’s a lot of ways to beat a guy, but if you can do it psychologically and you never have to get out there,” Sonnen explained on his Beyond the Fight show. “Dan Henderson had a great line one time, which is Dan was in a bar with somebody, and the guy said, ‘Hey, Dan. If I get in some trouble, you know, will you walk over there, beat this guy down for me?’ And Dan simply said, ‘Why do I need to beat him down when I can stare him down?’ And that rule of life doesn’t go away…”

    “You can stare a guy down, and he backs down; it is the art of war because the great generals never fire a shot,” Sonnen said. “They don’t need to. They align their troops and make the other people retreat. And if Chimaev is successfully doing that – If less than 20 minutes of action, three double-legs, a rear-naked choke, and a left hook – If that’s going to scare an entire division away in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, then shame on them. Fair play by Chimaev.”

    What do you make of Khamzat Chimaev being restrained by security?

  • Belal Muhammad Jokingly Hints Khamzat Chimaev Rejected Fight

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad poked fun at Khamzat Chimaev for allegedly dodging him for a fight in the Octagon.

    Muhammad most recently put on arguably the most dominant performance of his career against Stephen Thompson. As the new year begins, he’s potentially one fight away from a welterweight title shot.

    Muhammad has been calling out Chimaev for weeks for a bout. Meanwhile, Chimaev has been eagerly waiting for his return to the Octagon after a decisive win at UFC 267 over Li Jingliang.

    Muhammad first called out Chimaev following his latest win. During a recent Instagram post, he jokingly aimed at Chimaev.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYiUermMIZ3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Muhammad and Chimaev have gone back-and-forth on Twitter recently after preliminary fight rumors surfaced on social media. Now, it appears that Chimaev has turned his attention to a fight with former title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    Chimaev first became a household name after a memorable 2020. He finished the calendar year with three-straight finishes, including two within 10 days.

    As for Muhammad, it’s unclear who he’ll face for his first fight of 2022, but he remains interested in a matchup with the rising Chimaev. Depending on how the welterweight title conversation plays out, these two could battle sooner rather than later.

    Who should Belal Muhammad fight next?

  • Quote: The UFC Is Pushing Chimaev To Draw Khabib Back

    Former UFC welterweight Kevin Lee believes the promotion is heavily pushing Khamzat Chimaev in order to draw Khabib Nurmagomedov out of retirement.

    Not many fighters have burst onto the scene quicker than Chimaev, yet alone twice in two years. In 2020, “Borz” established his name with consecutive victories over John Phillips and Rhys McKee in the space of just 10 days, marking a modern UFC record.

    In his US debut a few months later, Chimaev showed his mettle at middleweight by knocking out divisional veteran Gerald Meerschaert. The fact he was booked to face elite contender Leon Edwards soon after his three unranked wins showed just how high the UFC was on the Chechen-born Swede.

    But after a tough battle with COVID-19, which almost saw him retire from the sport, Chimaev’s rise was put on hold. His battle with the virus left him on the sidelines for over a year. When he returned, he immediately brought back the hype he accumulated the year before.

    Against ranked opponent Li Jingliang at UFC 267, Chimaev secured his place on the welterweight ladder and even jumped into title contention in the eyes of many by brutally choking out “The Leech.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVq763JhT6B/

    Lee Senses A UFC-Chimaev Masterplan

    One man who hasn’t been impressed with Khamzat Chimaev is former interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee. The 29-year-old revealed he’s yet to board the rising star’s hype train because he hasn’t seen him do anything worthy of it.

    “The Motown Phenom” recently signed for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC following his release from the UFC. He’s now suggested his former promotion’s desire to bring his new boss back to the Octagon has led to Chimaev’s push.

    During an appearance on The Schmozone podcast, Lee suggested Dana White and the promotion are trying to play on Khabib’s ego by attempting to build another Dagestani brute to greater heights in the sport, something he believes could draw “The Eagle” back for more.

    “The Khamzat push, I think is to kind of make up for the gap that Khabib had. I think if they feel like he can get bigger than Khabib, they may be able to play with Khabib’s ego a little bit. As humble as Khabib wants to say he is, he’s got an ego, too. I think if somebody is to be looked at as above him in his own community, then maybe he might make that comeback, and then they’ll make a whole lot of money off him. I think that’s probably the push.”

    Khabib is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest of all time. The 33-year-old built an incredible unblemished 29-0 record across his illustrious career, a résumé that includes the names of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Rafael dos Anjos, Al Iaquinta, Edson Barboza, and Justin Gaethje.

    Following his successful defense against “The Highlight” in 2020, Khabib announced his retirement, citing the promise he’d made to his mother after the tragic passing of his father. While he’s remained committed to his decision to hang up his gloves ever since, it seems unlikely the UFC will ever fully give up hope of a monumental return.

    Do you agree with Kevin Lee? Is the UFC pushing Khamzat Chimaev to try and draw Khabib Nurmagomedov out of retirement?

  • Kevin Holland: Chimaev Will Give Everyone Problems

    UFC middleweight prospect Kevin Holland thinks Khamzat Chimaev is for real and could present issues to some of the best fighters in the UFC.

    Holland is looking to return sometime in January or February after multiple attempts at rebooking his fight with Kyle Daukaus have failed. He and Chimaev are two of the brightest young prospects on the UFC roster.

    Holland, like many of his other UFC colleagues, hasn’t ignored what Chimaev has been able to do in the Octagon so far. During an interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Holland spoke about what impresses him about Chimaev’s rise.

    “I think he’s big for welterweight,” Holland said. “He’s big for welterweight. He’s gonna give everybody problems, you know what I mean. The way he went through Jingliang. Man, that was crazy. It’s like, if you doubted him before that, it’s kinda hard to doubt him after that. I think he’s doing pretty good.”

    “We were talking about it, me and my manager, and then me and one of my coaches, and honestly, I think that he gets straight to the title,” Holland said. “One more win and he gets a title shot. The motherf*cker’s just rag-dolling people. So, yeah, be good to see.”

    Chimaev is coming off arguably the biggest win over his career at UFC 267 over Li Jingliang. He’s anticipating a return to the Octagon in early 2022 against a top contender.

    Meanwhile, Holland is planning to commit to the welterweight division next year. While there’s respect for Chimaev from Holland, the two young UFC stars could be on a collision course if both find their footing in the welterweight division.

    Do you agree with Kevin Holland’s comments?

  • Kevin Lee Is Not Impressed With Khamzat Chimaev

    While many have touted UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev as a future champion, former interim title challenger Kevin Lee isn’t convinced.

    Chimaev burst onto the scene in 2020, and despite a brief pause in his rise, “Borz” is well and truly back on the welterweight agenda.

    The Chechen-born Swede made his initial splash on Fight Island with two wins in the space of 10 days, a modern UFC record. He added a third to his tally two months later when he knocked out middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert on his US debut. For the next year, Chimaev was forced to the sidelines by a troubling case of COVID-19.

    Picking up where he left off, the promising 27-year-old re-emerged onto the scene at UFC 267 in October 2021. Adding to his previous Abu Dhabi success, Chimaev dominated and choked out ranked contender Li Jingliang in a vicious fashion.

    Lee Doesn’t Buy The Chimaev Hype

    Now ranked just outside the top 10 in the welterweight rankings, many are expecting Chimaev to secure a title shot with one or two more impressive victories. And despite the dominance of Kamaru Usman, “Borz” is being tipped by some as the man who can dethrone “The Nigerian Nightmare.”

    One fighter who doesn’t share that sentiment is Kevin Lee. The former UFC Welterweight, who recently signed for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion, hasn’t boarded the Chimaev hype train and is not impressed by the up-and-comer. According to “The Motown Phenom,” Chimaev is yet to do anything special.

    “I think he’s just getting a lot of buzz,” Lee said during an appearance on The Schmozone podcast. “People see him beat Li Jingliang and all of a sudden he’s like, the new God or something. I’ve been in the gyms with both these guys, so he’s alright. But he’s alright, you know. He’s not doing nothing that’s like crazy or anything. Honestly, he doesn’t really impress me too much. He’s just aggressive.”

    Lee, who fell short of interim lightweight gold against Tony Ferguson in 2017, will be looking to pursue title glory elsewhere after seven years in the UFC. Chimaev, meanwhile, will be looking to achieve more success on MMA’s biggest stage than “The Motown Phenom” ultimately managed to.

    Do you agree with Kevin Lee or are you aboard the Khamzat Chimaev hype train?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans Hijack The UFC’s Best Submissions Of 2021 List

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the UFC’s nominations for Best Submission of 2021.

    It’s the last week of 2021, which means it’s time to start looking back at the biggest and best moments of the year. Right now, that means taking a peek at the UFC’s nominations for the best submission of the year.

    You can expect everyone and their grandpappy to break out their year-end lists over the next few days. But naturally, the UFC’s lists stand apart from the rest given that, well, it’s their promotion.

    So on behalf of the UFC, we at MMA News present to you their nominations for best submission of 2021! After a brief recap of each submission, you can find the video showcasing all the action followed by the Pulse of MMA letting their collective voice be heard on their thoughts on the nominations list. And as you will find out, public opinion was, in large part, not in accord with the UFC’s thinking.

    Vicente Luque Submits Tyron Woodley via D’Arce choke (UFC 260)

    During what was an action-packed first round, Tyron Woodley brought the fight to Vicente Luque. No longer gun-shy and tentative, Woodley took a more proactive approach. Though he had some success in the beginning, eventually, Luque got the better of the stand-up exchanges, culminating with a barrage of strikes that had “The Chosen One” on wobbly legs before ultimately being dropped by a looping left hook by the Brazilian, which led to the D’Arce.

    UFC 260 results: Vicente Luque submits Tyron Woodley with D'arce choke in crazy opening round - MMA Fighting
    Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    Brandon Moreno Submits Deiveson Figueiredo via Rear-Naked Choke (UFC 263)

    Brandon Moreno came into UFC 263 as an underdog, but he exited as a champion. Heading into the third round, Moreno was up on two out of the three scorecards, with the third judge having it one round apiece. The judges would be taken out of the equation when he secured the rear-naked choke after peppering Figueiredo with a couple of left hands while applying a full body lock.

    Brandon Moreno Chokes Deiveson Figueiredo UFC 263

    Glover Teixeira def. Jan Blachowicz via Rear-Naked Choke (UFC 267)

    Coming into the fight, it was well known what was Glover Teixeira’s path to victory when he challenged Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight championship at UFC 267. The second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt would be well served to get the fight to the mat and do what he had done in three of his previous five fights: get the submission. And that’s exactly what happened.

    After getting the takedown in the second frame, Teixeira effortlessly passed Blachowicz’s guard into mount, prompting the Pole to give up his back, which is the last thing you want to do against Teixeira. Within seconds, the 42-year-old had secured the light heavyweight prize as well as his place in UFC history.

    UFC 267 results: Glover Teixeira completes fairytale run to gold against Jan Blachowicz as Khamzat Chimaev stars | The Independent
    Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz

    Khamzat Chimaev def. Li Jingliang via Rear-Naked Choke (UFC 267)

    Khamzat Smesh.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    UFC’s Best Submissions of 2021 Video

    You can check out each of the above submissions for yourself in the video below!

    MMA Fans Weigh In

    Finally, here is what the Pulse of MMA had to say about the UFC’s nominations list:

    https://twitter.com/YingHulian/status/1474832939737395201
    https://twitter.com/sean_jockstrap/status/1474960295718232066

    What do YOU think was the best submission of 2021?

  • Chimaev & Muhammad Engage In Drawn-Out Twitter Battle

    Khamzat Chimaev and Belal Muhammad may or may not fight one another in the Octagon, but they have already engaged in a drawn-out Twitter battle.

    Belal Muhammad has gone unbeaten in his last seven fights. Heading into this past Saturday’s UFC Vegas 45 event, Muhammad’s latest win had come over legendary grappler Demian Maia at UFC 263. This earned the Chicagoan a headliner opposite Stephen Thompson in what was arguably the most difficult test of Muhammad’s career.

    He aced it with flying colors.

    UFC: Belal Muhammad decries 'drunken hick screaming racist words' in win over 'Wonderboy', and demands a title shot | South China Morning Post
    Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    For his reward, he moved up a few grade levels up to the #5 ranking in the welterweight division. While Muhammad firmly believes reigning champion Kamaru Usman is in need of some fresh challenges, he’d also be willing to fight undefeated juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev, despite Borz being ranked six spots beneath him at #11.

    In fact, Muhammad has stated that a victory over Chimaev would be more valuable than beating any other ranked opponent. It’s not often that a fighter in the top 5 calls out someone outside of the top 10 with so much gusto.

    Yet, despite the rarity of this occurrence, Borz isn’t taking the callout all that seriously based on the following tweet published Thursday.

    “When you got a finger in your eye you gave up, how you even gonna think to fight me? Bullshit boy,” Chimaev asked with a series of crying laughing emoji beside his rhetorical question.

    Khamzat Chimaev Continues Trolling Muhammad

    This was among many other shots Chimaev launched Muhammad’s way in yesterday’s Twitter barrage.

    https://twitter.com/KChimaev/status/1474052890847240199
    https://twitter.com/KChimaev/status/1474053173543419906

    Belal Muhammad Fires Back

    Not one to stand idly by and get bullied, @bullyb170 clapped back.

    “Didn’t You retire because you had a cold? Don’t worry Friend I got some nyquil for you,” Muhammad posted prior to the following barrage of his own:

    Seeds Planted For Potential Welterweight Showdown?

    The only fight that Belal Muhammad did not win in his last seven fights was against Leon Edwards in March, a fight Chimaev referenced in one of his memes. The bout was ruled a no-contest when Muhammad was unable to continue following a gruesome accidental eye poke from Edwards in the second round.

    Khamzat Chimaev has been on the hunt for his next opponent ever since making easy work of Li Jingliang at UFC 267. Both he and Dana White have been very public about the struggles they’ve faced in finding a willing opponent for the rising star.

    Chimaev’s Twitter exchange with Muhammad could be planting the seeds for a 2022 collision between the two welterweights. Or, it could merely be trash-talking done just to pass the time with no UFC fights on the horizon for the MMA community anytime soon.

    Friday morning, Chimaev dropped yet another meme of Muhammad for good measure, this time of a more festive nature.

    Do you believe Belal Muhammad vs. Khamzat Chimaev is the fight to make?

  • Henry Cejudo: Khamzat Chimaev Would Destroy Colby Covington

    Henry Cejudo thinks that Khamzat Chimeav would give Colby Covington a run for his money and then some.

    Henry Cejudo was one of the most successful fighters in the UFC when he was actively fighting. Having won two titles in two different divisions, Cejudo was a master of his craft. Now that he is retired, he is actively helping other fighters find the type of success he had during his reign.

    Taking a look now at the welterweight division, Cejudo had some assessments for the athletes at 170 pounds, in particular, Khamzat Chimeav.

    Henry Cejudo Heaps High Praise On Khamzat Chimaev

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev

    Cejudo, like many people, is a big fan of Chimaev and what he has been able to do in his four fights with the UFC. Cejudo believes Chimaev would easily beat almost any man in the UFC welterweight division, and he spoke a bit about this on The Triple C & Schmo Show.

    “I am super high on that dude,” Cejudo said. “I believe that he would destroy Colby [Covington]. I believe that he would destroy the majority of the people at 170 pounds. The only one that can beat Chimaev is Kamaru Usman. But I think everybody else, I think he takes to school. No joke.”

    Chimaev has been calling for a fight with a ranked opponent. He had been turned down by a few people, including Nate Diaz. However, now it seems there is rising interest coming from a few top ten fighters. Most recently, Belal Muhammad expressed interest in stopping the hype train that is Chimaev. Also, Neil Magny has repeatedly challenged Chimaev.

    “I think Chimaev at 185 pounds, especially against a style like Stylebender, I think it’s an easy fight for him,” Cejudo said. “He’s big, he’s nasty, he’s ferocious. When people praise and talk about wrestling like he does, it just makes you dangerous. He’s gonna get on top of you, Khabib style, and he’s gonna hurt you. Chimaev is dangerous and I understand why nobody in the 170-pound weight division wants to fight the damn man.”

    Chimaev has four straight wins in the UFC so far. He has stopped each of these four opponents in less than two rounds. It is no wonder why many people, Cejudo included, think Chimaev has what it takes to make a run at the title.

    Cejudo has seen some great fighters up close during his career, including having taken down one of the greats Demetrious Johnson. Now, Cejudo gets to see greatness on a daily basis as he is helping to train some of the best in the sport, including Jon Jones and Weili Zhang.

    Do you think Khamzat Chimaev would defeat Colby Covington if they faced off now?

  • Muhammad Thinks Beating Chimaev Is “Worth More” Than Any Ranked Win

    Belal Muhammad isn’t shying away from a possible fight with Khamzat Chimaev.

    Belal Muhammad is coming off what was arguably the biggest win of his career. He defeated former title challenger Stephen Thompson last weekend and now has his eyes set on a title shot.

    Muhammad believes he could be next for champion Kamaru Usman following the win and his most recent bump up the rankings. However, if that title shot doesn’t come right away, Muhammad has another plan to get him there.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    Muhammad thinks that a win over streaking Khamzat Chimaev would get him the momentum he needs to vie for the welterweight title. He explained his rationale to MMA Junkie.

    “He has the most hype in the division right now,” Muhammad said of Chimaev. “He has that (Conor) McGregor X-factor stardom right now, where the fans think he’s untouchable. The boss thinks he’s untouchable. They all think it’s just a matter of time before he becomes champion.

    “So for me, if I beat him, I steal all of his hype, and I think it’s worth more than beating anybody ranked in the division. Beating him is probably worth more than beating Colby Covington just because of all the hype he has right now.”

    It is true that Chimaev has a lot of hype surrounding him. He made a splash in the UFC when he won two fights back to back on Fight Island during the summer of 2020. He is now 4-0 in the UFC and undefeated as a professional. He is a fan favorite, and it seems like he is a favorite of Dana White as well. White has been high on Chimaev and has even expressed that no other fighter wants to fight him.

    “So in this game, it’s about momentum, it’s about hype, and it’s about who’s hot right now. He’s the hottest right now,” Muhammad said. “So beating him, I steal all that shine. I steal all that heat, so why wouldn’t I?”

    Muhammad isn’t the only man with this idea, Neil Magny has been asking for a shot at Chimaev as well. On the flip side, Chimaev has been asking for a shot at a ranked opponent. Muhammad is now sitting in the #5 spot in the rankings. If he wants to fight Chimaev, it seems likely that fight can be made.

    Do you think Belal Muhammad fighting Khamzat Chimaev is a good idea?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Asks Dana White For Permission To ‘Eat’ Neil Magny

    Borz is asking for permission to continue his feasting of the UFC roster.

    If there’s one thing we know about “Borz,” it’s that he’s always hungry. Since his debut in the UFC as 2020’s breakout star, Khamzat Chimaev has done nothing but fill up stats. The fights have been about as one-sided as a four-plater against a Thanksgiving spread. The only struggle that comes is after the meal has already been smeshed.

    For Chimaev, that struggle has been the constipation of his fight bookings. According to both White and Chimaev, the UFC has had quite the time finding Chimaev’s next opponent.

    The UFC and Chimaev pushed for a pairing with Nate Diaz, but the Stockton native said the very idea of such a fight was disrespectful to him. There were also reports of a Chimaev/Burns match last month, but those talks have seemingly stalled or evaporated.

    One Potential Feast Victim Steps Up To The Plate

    Neil Magny
    Credit: Getty Images

    There is one individual who has constantly been volunteering his services to end Borz’s feast draught: #7-ranked welterweight Neil Magny. Magny has been calling for a fight against the UFC’s new boogeyman since last year. Chimaev himself even once commended Magny for his bravery and self-sacrifice.

    Dana White recently stated that no welterweight wanted to fight Khamzat Chimaev. He would later walk back this claim, admitting that Neil Magny was more than willing to accept that fight.

    Now, with his patience far past its limit, Chimaev is asking his supplier if he can begin eating again.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuJDdHAIgf/

    “@danawhite let me eat this guy bro neil_magny170,” Chimaev posted on Instagram.

    Khamzat Chimaev’s latest feasting took place at UFC 267 against #13-ranked Li Jingliang. Not unlike his three UFC beatdowns that preceded this bout, Chimaev had his way with his opponent en route to a flawless 10-0 record.

    Neil Magny last competed in May at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson. Magny defeated Geoff Neal via unanimous decision, making that four victories out of his last five fights.

    Are you interested in a fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Neil Magny?

  • Dana White Walks Back Claim That No Welterweight Wants Chimaev Fight

    Dana White may have prematurely stated that nobody wants to fight Khamzat Chimaev.

    Dana White’s job is to be a promoter. He is maybe the best fight promoter on the planet, and the way he is able to hype fights and fighters is arguably second to none.

    Lately, he has been riding high on Khamzat Chimaev. The rising welterweight star is looking to be the next big thing in the UFC, and it seems White can get on board with this notion. In fact, White recently came out to claim that no other welterweight on the roster would take a fight with Chmiaev.

    “Khamzat Chimaev is one of the baddest dudes that I’ve ever come across. He is literally willing to fight anyone,” White said to MMA Junkie just a few weeks ago.“Nobody wants to fight this guy. Everybody wants to get out on social media and say this or that. But when it really comes down to it, nobody is trying to fight Khamzat Chimaev. I don’t blame them.”

    This is all well and good to hype up one of the most interesting and fastest-rising fighters on the roster, but his statement was not 100% true. Although many possible opponents have turned down Chimaev, like Nate Diaz, there is one man who has been shouting from the rooftops for a fight with the Swedish powerhouse.

    “And that’s unfair for me to say because that is true. Neil Magny would take that fight today,” White clarified to Daniel Cormier on his YouTube channel.

    Magny has been calling for Chimaev for months. He has been active on Twitter looking for a fight and even had the idea of matching up with him this month. Although that date is no longer possible, now that White has publicly admitted to being aware of Magny’s eagerness, perhaps the fight can finally be put on the books in 2022.

    Do you think Neil Magny would be able to beat Khamzat Chimaev if they are matched up?

  • Belal Muhammed Down To Fight Khamzat Chimaev After “Wonderboy”

    Regardless of Dana White’s claims, not everyone is afraid of Khamzat Chimaev. 

    Sans a brutal eye poke in a short-notice bout against Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammed has been on a tear since 2019. He’s dispatched Demian Maia, Dhiego Lima, and Lyman Good during his current run. Wins over unranked opponents and an aging Maia may not be enough to earn “The Bully” a crack at the title, but he feels a win over Stephen Thompson this weekend will be enough to shoot him into contention (h/t MMA Junkie). 

    “The only guys who have beaten (Thompson) in the last whatever years is either the champion or Gilbert Burns, who’s fought for the title,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie at UFC Vegas 45 media day. “(Thompson has) fought for the title twice so if he fought for the title twice, I just beat (Demian) Maia who fought for the title twice– ‘Bully B’ needs to fight for the title once.”

    Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    Thompson did fight for the title twice, but that was years ago. Currently, Thompson is 2-3 in his last five bouts. This means Muhammed may need to put in some more work before he’s summoned to fight for a belt. If that’s the case, the Chicagoan has no problem facing one of the promotion’s fastest rising stars in Khamzat Chimaev.  

    “He’s the biggest name right now, the biggest star, has the most momentum, the biggest hype,” Muhammad said. “He has Conor McGregor hype where it’s like you beat him, you gain more from beating him than anybody else in the division—where he has this stigma of him being the boogeyman of how he just dominated everybody. So you beat somebody like that, you’re the next star. You steal all of his hype, you steal all of his momentum. So it’s like, why not?”

    Chimaev looked nearly unstoppable since he joined the UFC last year. He has the fastest turnaround in the organization’s history and most recently ran through Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in October. Belal Muhammad’s upcoming bout against Stephen Thompson takes place tomorrow (Dec. 18) at UFC Vegas 45.

    How do you think a fight between Belal Muhammed and Khamzat Chimaev would play out?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Responds To Vicente Luque’s ‘Say My Name’ Remarks

    UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev isn’t sure why he doesn’t have an opponent for his next fight but is willing to take on all challengers.

    Chimaev has remained active on social media since dismantling Li Jingliang at UFC 267. He’s called for fights with some of the biggest names in the sport, including Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.

    Rising contender Vicente Luque also recently threw his name in the hat of possible opponents for Chimaev, indicating that Chimaev just needs to say his name for the fight to happen.

    After getting word of Luque’s comments, Chimaev responded profoundly on his Twitter page.

    “If I say I want to fight everybody it means everybody,” Chimaev said. “I don’t have to call every single fighter by their names. BMF belt is mine, UFC belt is mine too. I’ve heard there is gonna be [an event on March 5] in Vegas. And I don’t understand why I still don’t have an opponent.”

    Khamzat Chimaev Has Sights Set On Welterweight Title

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    Khamzat Chimaev has taken the UFC by storm since joining the promotion in 2020. He remains undefeated in his professional career, with all 10 of his wins coming by way of knockout or submission.

    Chimaev has made it clear that he wants a shot at welterweight champion Kamaru Usman sooner rather than later. Luque is also vying for a title shot after four straight wins over the likes of Tyron Woodley and Michael Chiesa.

    A fight between Chimaev and Luque could make sense in the meantime, but it’s unclear what the promotion has planned for both welterweights. There were previous reports of Chimaev being paired with Burns, but those talks may have fizzled out.

    Chimaev and Luque both likely need at least one more strong performance to make a valid case for a title shot. If they want to impress the champion, a highlight win against the other could do the trick.

    Who would you like to see Khamzat Chimaev fight next?

  • Vicente Luque On Chimaev Fight: All He Has To Do Is Say My Name

    UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque has welcomed a fight against rising star Khamzat Chimaev, saying the decision to sign the contract would be “simple” for him.

    Luque has been on an impressive rise up the 170-pound ladder. Since a 2017 loss to the #3-ranked Leon Edwards, the Brazilian has gone 10-1, defeating the likes of Niko Price, Bryan Barberena, Mike Perry, and Randy Brown, and losing to only Stephen Thompson.

    Since his setback to “Wonderboy,” Luque has won four straight, including 2021 victories over former champion Tyron Woodley and then-top-five contender Michael Chiesa. His victory over “Maverick,” which came at UFC 265 in August, saw “The Silent Assassin” expertly reverse position to submit Chiesa with a D’Arce choke.

    Luque Places The Ball In Chimaev’s Court

    After his latest victory, Vicente Luque continued his callouts of fan-favorite Nate Diaz, with the Stockton native even appearing to publicly accept the fight. But with talk of that clash disappearing, the 30-year-old is now on the hunt for other potential foes, and he’s certainly not afraid of anyone, not even an undefeated brute outside the top 10.

    After making a splash in the UFC last year, Khamzat Chimaev was forced to the sidelines with a bad bout of COVID-19. When he returned at UFC 267 in October, “Borz” immediately entered the rankings and the title conversation with a first-round domination of Li Jingliang.

    Reports initially suggested the promotion was targeting a matchup between Chimaev and #2-ranked contender Gilbert Burns. However, it’s now a teammate of “Durinho” pushing for a clash with the Chechen-born Swede.

    During an Instagram live session, Luque started by praising his welterweight peer and acknowledged why there is so much hype surrounding his blossoming career. However, that doesn’t put him off entering the Octagon with Chimaev. The Brazilian said he’d have no problem accepting the fight and encouraged “Borz” to call out his name.

    “I sure understand the hype behind it. He looks great in fights, he seems like a really strong guy. He goes in there and finishes every fight. So I understand the hype, I understand why the UFC wants to put you in big fights. Many people ask me about this fight (against Chimaev). And I’m here. If he mentions my name – because I didn’t hear him say my name – if he says my name and the UFC sends me the contract, I’m going to sign that contract. This is simple for me.

    “But he didn’t mention my name. I think he said, ‘Anyone in the top.’ Well, when someone mentions my name and asks for this fight, I’m going to do it for sure. I think it’s a great fight, it’s an exciting fight. He’s a monster. He goes in there and tries to finish the opponent every second. It’s not much different from what I do. It would be a great fight, that’s for sure. If he wants to, if he warns the UFC and if they warn me, we’ll do it,” he concluded. (h/t ESPN)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMv0dRopmj/

    It’s perhaps unsurprising that one of the welterweights open to fighting Chimaev is Luque. “The Silent Assassin” has built a reputation as an always-game individual who doesn’t hesitate when it comes to accepting fights—unless it’s against his teammate Burns, of course.

    Now that Luque has joined Neil Magny in calling out “Borz,” the idea that top contenders in the 170-pound weight class are avoiding him, a narrative pushed by many, including Derek Brunson, has perhaps lost its legs.

    How do you think a fight between Vicente Luque and Khamzat Chimaev would play out?

  • Report: Nate Diaz Has Current UFC Contract Extended

    UFC fans could see more of Nate Diaz in the coming year after MMA reporter Ariel Helwani reported that the Stockton native’s contract has been extended.

    Diaz hasn’t fought since his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 263 earlier this year. He previously had one more fight left on his contract, but it appears that more fights may have been added to his deal for the same price tag.

    Diaz hasn’t signed any new deal yet for more money, but that could be in the works in the coming months. Helwani reported the news via a post on his Substack page.

    “Sounds like the UFC is moving on from Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nathan Diaz fight and, as a result, have extended Diaz’s contract,” Helwani said. “I think they knew that would happen and were hoping to buy time for when Conor McGregor is ready to return later this year,” the report states.

    “Diaz hasn’t signed any new deal yet, so that, too, is a fascinating story to watch next year.”

    Nate Diaz Has Called For Fights Against Top Contenders

    Diaz and the UFC have been at a bit of a crossroads in terms of his potential next opponent. It had been speculated that Diaz would fight rising welterweight Vicente Luque next, but negotiations didn’t move forward.

    Diaz has also hinted at a potential fight with Tony Ferguson, although it’s unclear what Ferguson’s plans for his return are. Ferguson last fought against Beneil Dariush at UFC 262 and has lost three straight bouts.

    The UFC also offered Diaz a fight with Khamzat Chimaev, which he turned down and called Chimaev a “rookie”. Diaz’s extension could also potentially open the door to a trilogy with Conor McGregor as soon as next year.

    Diaz has blossomed into a UFC pay-per-view star and could return to the Octagon sooner rather than later.

    Who would you like to see Nate Diaz fight next in the UFC after having his contract extended?