標籤: Chimaevs

It certainly didn’t take long for Khamzat Chimaev to change his mind on what to do next after his defeat on Saturday night at UFC 328.

This weekend, Chimaev enters the first defense of his middleweight title as a heavy favorite against former champion Sean Strickland. Yet it didn’t take long to understand why the American was a popular upset pick, as he was capable of scoring takedowns and turning a lot of the fight into a standup war.

“Borz” was unable to dominate his wrestling, and after five tough rounds, he was defeated and lost his title by split decision. Prior to the bout, reports revealed that Chimaev had lost approximately 40 pounds, and he looked to be in poor shape during Friday’s weigh-in. Barely making the 185 pound limit.

He mentioned before the fight that he would like to move up to 205 pounds and reportedly told UFC CEO Dana White afterward that his middleweight move was complete. Well, it looks like the decision has been completely reversed.

Khamzat Chimaev now wants a rematch with Shawn Strickland

His team told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, “The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight Khamzat wants. He’s passionate about it.” “This is the only fight he’ll accept right now.”

This is a stunning 180 made by the former champion after all the evidence and rumors that he was moving up to light heavyweight. However, Chimaev noted that due to the excitement leading up to Saturday’s UFC 328 main event, he was set to receive the biggest payout of his career.

Additionally, there are many MMA experts who thought Chimaev did enough to earn the victory on Saturday night. Maybe the idea of ​​better weight loss, another big payday and a good chance for revenge has finally entered the 32-year-old’s mind.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will make his first title defense against Sean Strickland on Saturday. The championship fight is set to headline UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

After dethroning Dricus du Plessis for the 185-pound championship title last August, Chimaev (15-0) aims to maintain his undefeated record and solidify his status as a middleweight kingpin. Strickland (30-7) last won a championship two years ago. He’ll get another chance when he takes on one of the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

In anticipation of fight week, we take a look at the five greatest moments of “Borz’s” UFC run.

Khamzat Chimaev’s disastrous UFC debut

In July 2020, the native of Chechen Republic, Russia made his UFC debut with a professional record of 6-0. He defeated John Phillips. Within seconds of the opening round, Chimaev knocked him to the ground. Phillips struggled to get back to his feet throughout the round and Chimaev landed a total of 72 strikes in the first round alone. In the second round, Chimaev continued where he left off and defeated Phillips for the second time.

Just over a minute later, the Russian got Phillips to tap out for a Brabo choke. The quick outing was a big statement from Chimaev in his debut with a major MMA promotion.

Fastest 3-fight win streak in UFC history

In September 2020, Chimaev went up against Gerald Meerschaert. A single right hand effort was enough to knock out Meerschaert, as Chimaev earned a knockout victory at just 0:17 of the first round. This was the shortest period of his tenure with the UFC (but not of his professional career).

With the win, he earned his third consecutive Performance of the Night bonus. Chimaev also won his third consecutive fight in a span of just 66 days. This set a record for the fastest three-fight win streak in UFC history.

Out-Grappling a UFC Legend at UFC 294

Taking a step up in competition, Chimaev faces former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023. “The Nigerian Nightmare” possessed elite takedown defense and was only knocked down once in his UFC career.

However, Chimaev scored four takedowns against Usman, with 7:16 of control time remaining. Chimaev won by majority decision, defeating Usman 107–58 in total strikes. The decision victory over a former world champion proved Chimaev’s case as a high-caliber fighter.

Breaking Robert Whittaker’s jaw at UFC 308

Chimaev faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October 2024. With a first round loss, the undefeated prospect continued to showcase his fast speed and elite level of wrestling.

Eventually “Reaper” briefly tried to escape, but Chimaev pinned him back to the ground. With just over a minute remaining in the round, Chimaev induced Whittaker to tap to the face crank submission. This was only the second time Whittaker was defeated by submission in the UFC.

Winning gold at UFC 319

Last August at UFC 319, Chimaev got his first title shot against reigning UFC middleweight champion Du Plessis. “Stilnox” had one of the lowest takedown protections among top level fighters. This showed against Chimaev, who scored 12 takedowns and controlled the defending champion to a total of 21:40.

The challenger landed a total of 529 strikes compared to du Plessis’ total of 45. Another UFC record was set by Chimaev for most total strikes in a single fight.

In a completely uneven and one-sided fight, all three judges scored the fight 50–45, giving Chimaev the unanimous decision victory and his first World Championship title.

Born and raised in New York City, Jimmy Robles received a journalism degree from Queens College in 2017. Before… More About Jimmy Robles

Khamzat Chimaev has long targeted a showdown with Alex Pereira, but the undefeated middleweight champion’s grappling coach believes the Brazilian striker should take a completely different route.

A key figure in Chimaev’s corner, Alan “Finfou” do Nascimento, recently spoke with MMA Fighting and offered surprisingly candid advice for the current light heavyweight king. Rather than risk his aura in a stylistic nightmare against “Borz”, Nascimento suggests that Pereira should pursue a third divisional title in the heavyweight ranks.

Nascimento acknowledges that a bout between the two superstars would generate significant revenue, but he feels the historical implications of the heavyweight move are far more important. The grappling expert pointed out that Pereira is already the financial A-side in almost any matchup.

Therefore, accepting the fight against Chimaev, even if a second title is at stake for the Chechen-born fighter, does not offer the same historical reward as capturing a third championship belt. Nascimento said achieving champion-champ-champ status is something the organization has never seen, making it the ultimate foundation for a combat sports career.

Despite advising against the matchup from his perspective, Nascimento is confident in his protégé’s ability to reach the 205-pound limit. He said that moving up to light heavyweight requires a fair amount of time to safely gain weight and cannot be done overnight. However, if UFC officials provide the opportunity and Chimaev is interested, the team will comply and move forward with the necessary preparations.

The coach praised both athletes for their mentality in rising from difficult beginnings to the top of the sport. When breaking down the hypothetical clash of styles, Nascimento predicted a classic striker-versus-grappler dynamic, where the athlete who successfully dictates the fight location would be victorious.

He noted that if Chimaev failed to secure a takedown, he would be in serious danger of being knocked unconscious by Pereira’s signature left hook. Conversely, if Chimaev manages to pin the kickboxer to the ground, the chances of a submission victory will increase.

While acknowledging the unpredictability of combat sports – such as the hypothetical scenario of Pereira knocking out Chimaev – Nascimento firmly believes that the outcome depends entirely on which man can apply his tactics first.