Few fighters in combat sports history have captured the imagination of fans quite like Khamzat Chimaev. A whirlwind of dominance marked his meteoric rise to stardom. The hype and following the Chechen created throughout his career are nothing short of marvelous.
Khamzat Chimaev’s career has seen its fair share of ecstatic highs and depressing lows. The dominance of his presence in the UFC remains close to being unrivaled. He gained fame within a short span of time, and everyone was rooting for the Chechen ‘Borz.’
Khamzat Chimaev’s rise in the UFC: His early fights
No one can deny the epic run Khamzat Chimaev had in his UFC career. He may not have a huge number of fights, but the Chechen fighter has achieved what most dream about. Even Dana White had nothing but praise for him. His debut in the UFC came in 2020. His magnificent three quick wins garnered him mainstream attention. The new fighter from Europe had turned heads quickly.
Khamzat Chimaev first year in the UFC was spectacular (via Sports Illustrated)Chimaev fought his first three fights in the UFC in a matter of 65 days. His second fight came just ten days after he won his debut. This was unheard of in the UFC. The fighter captured everyone’s attention in the pandemic lockdown filled 2020.
The start of health struggles for the Chechen ‘Borz’
This Chechen wrecking ball, once hailed as the next great hope of the welterweight division, found himself on the brink of greatness. His aspirations were derailed by an invisible foe, the dreaded coronavirus. Chimaev’s much-anticipated showdown with the formidable Leon Edwards, scheduled for December 2020, was intended to be his grand arrival on the big stage. The hype train was at full steam, and fans were salivating at the prospect of witnessing a clash of titans.
Khamzat Chimaev and his health struggles (via Yahoo Sports)But fate had other plans as COVID-19 reared its ugly head, forcing both fighters to withdraw from the highly anticipated bout. The bout was scheduled again, but the virus that took many people’s loved ones away from them, including Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, had already taken a toll on the Chechen phenom, and he was forced to pull out once again.
In a display of resilience that would make Rocky Balboa proud, the UFC brass decided to give Chimaev one more chance, scheduling the bout for a third time in March 2021. But alas, the lingering effects of COVID-19 proved too much for the young warrior, and the fight was canceled yet again
Retirement scare that shook the MMA World
As if the universe hadn’t already dealt Chimaev a cruel enough hand, his struggles with the virus were far from over. He found himself in a desperate battle for his life, struggling to breathe and contemplating retirement. It was a heartbreaking sight to behold – a once unstoppable force reduced to a mere shadow of himself. Furthermore, a false cancer alarm played a major role in the retirement scare.
Khamzat Chimaev’s retirement scare (via MMA Fighting)But in true Chimaev fashion, he refused to surrender. With the tenacity of a true warrior, he clawed his way back from the brink, determined to reclaim his place among the elite. His journey back to the octagon was a testament to the indomitable human spirit, a reminder that even the mightiest of fighters can be brought to their knees by an unseen enemy.
The Comeback of the Chechen Prodigy: Fight against Li Jingliang
Khamzat Chimaev made a thunderous statement at UFC 267 in his first fight after a retirement scare. The undefeated Chechen-born Swede took on grizzled veteran Li Jingliang. Most expected a tough fight as this was his comeback, and Jingliang had only ever been finished once. But Chimaev had other plans.
Khamzat Chimaev’s comeback (via MMA Viking)From the opening bell, Chimaev rushed forward relentlessly like a man possessed. At one point, he picked up and brutally slammed the Chinese fighter right in front of UFC CEO Dana White’s seat. This exact moment made Khamzat Chimaev the absolute boogeyman of the division. Others have tried it as well, like Merab Dvalishvili recently did with Henry Cejudo. But none matched the ferocity of the Chechen wolf.
Chimaev secured a fight-ending rear-naked choke in Round 1. The 27-year-old’s performance was as terrifying as it was wildly entertaining. He channeled his inner young Mike Tyson – cocky, fearless, and alarmingly violent. Since then, Chimaev has become a must-see TV for UFC fans worldwide. His mixture of elite wrestling/grappling, ferocious scrambling ability, and outrageous confidence has captured fans’ imaginations.
The slowing of the hype train: Khamzat Chimaev’s struggles
The path to cementing his legacy after the Jingliang fight for Khamzat Chimaev was an uphill struggle. It was a four-year rollercoaster ride for Chiamev. Missed weights, canceled bouts, and injuries threatened to derail his hype train. His fanatically growing fan base and fighting career decelerated rapidly.
The slowing of Khamzat Chimaev’s hype (via MMA Fighting)It started in April 2022 against streaking contender Gilbert Burns. The two elite grapplers went back and forth for three thrilling rounds. Chimaev emerged victorious but bloodied and dazed from Burns’ power. His aura of invincibility was cracked as bigger challenges loomed. Fans had seen the Chechen boogeyman get rocked for the first time. This was the start of doubt in fan’s hearts. Maybe Chimaev wasn’t the unstoppable force they thought he was.
A showdown with Nate Diaz was booked for UFC 279. However, miscommunication at the scales led to Chimaev missing weight. He was hastily rebooked against Kevin Holland in a sloppy chain of events. Chimaev shrugged off the drama to maul Holland. Nonetheless, his weight fiasco sparked doubts about discipline and preparation. Serious questions lingered about his ability to make 170lbs.
Khamzat Chimaev’s move to Middleweight amidst weight-cutting struggles
Finally, after a lengthy layoff, ‘Borz’ listened to his body and went up to middleweight. This was arguably a good move on his behalf. His recent issues with weight cutting and his previous COVID-19 issues made it a better career choice. Paulo Costa was supposed to welcome him, but the Brazilian pulled out and Chimaev ended up fighting Kamaru Usman.
Khamzat Chimaev’s stay at 185 (via MMA Fighting)The fight against Kamaru Usman increased the doubts in MMA fans’ and athletes’ minds alike about Chimaev’s place in the top echelons. The fight was a close one, with Chimaev getting the majority decision. But this was not the Chimaev people were expecting to see. They were expecting the UFC debut version of him, not someone who fought a short-notice fighter and arguably won controversially. This fight landed a huge blow to Chimaev’s hype, and there was no way back from it.
Khamzat Chimaev’s potential title eliminator fight at middleweight
Khamzat Chimaev was scheduled to fight former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. This bout was potentially for a title contender. Plus, this was the first UFC card in Saudi Arabia. The odds opened in Whittaker’s favor at -200 to Chimaev’s +170. He was a -260 favorite against Li Jingliang. The hype train for Chimaev had hit the brakes hard.
Khamzat Chimaev’s health struggles strike again (via Telecom Asia/ Boxing News)As of 14 Jun, reports came out that Chimaev had pulled out of the Saudi Arabia fight card. Dana White stated the Chechen fighter had become ‘violently ill’ during training and had to be hospitalized. This put another blow in his already slowing career trajectory. Reports stated that Chimaev was still in the hospital. It’s uncertain what will happen to his career. But one thing is certain; this setback, although not in his control, is sure to hinder his career and the hype behind the big bad Chechen ‘Borz.’
Khamzat Chimaev’s Visa issues: A drain on his prime years
Khamzat Chimaev’s biggest battle isn’t in the Octagon. It’s with the U.S. State Department. So far, Uncle Sam has won by a unanimous decision. According to reports, Chimaev’s visa troubles stem from an unlikely source. It’s not just his Russian passport causing headaches for “Borz.”
Khamzat Chimaev with Ramzan Kadyrov (via Sports Politika)His close ties to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov are the real knockout punch. The duo trains and travels together on private jets, and Kadyrov showered him with gifts. It’s a friendship that’s costing Chimaev dearly. The U.S. sanctioned the controversial figure for human rights abuses back in 2020.
This puts Chimaev in a tricky spot. This has been a headache for the UFC to set him up for fights as the Chechen fighter cannot enter the US. Chimaev’s headliner against Whittaker was set in Saudi Arabia. Now, he might have to wait till UFC gets back to Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia in the near future. This restriction on fighting has cost Chimaev several fights he could have fought in his prime.
Final thoughts on the tragic career of Khamzat Chimaev
There is still something undeniably compelling about Chimaev’s journey. It is a tale of resilience and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Perhaps it is this very human element that endears him to fans, a reminder that even the mightiest warriors are not immune to the trials and tribulations of life.
Khamzat Chimaev’s hype and career summarized (via MMA Mania)In the end, the still undefeated fighter‘s story may not be one of unbroken success, but it is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a fighter who refuses to be defined by his struggles. Moreover, to do it in a sport that celebrates the indomitable human spirit is perhaps the greatest victory of all.
