Khamzat Chimaev is a name that resonates across the MMA community for his pressure-style fighting. According to UFC veteran Anthony Smith, every fighter should fear Khamzat Chimaev, but only for the first five minutes of a fight. After that, all bets are off.
Ever since entering the UFC, Chimaev has dominated almost all his opponents. As such, Smith believed the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev possessed such frightening power and aggression that he could overpower anyone in the first round.
I’m a real big believer in Khamzat, I really am. I think the guy’s incredible. But if we’re just being critical, first round, I think Khamzat can beat anybody across any weight class, I don’t give a sh*t who it is.
Anthony Smith via Beleive You Me Podcast
Anthony Smith pointed to Chimaev’s war with Gilbert Burns as an example of him wilting in rounds two and three. Michael Bisping also chimed in with the Kamaru Usman reference. The Chechen-born wrecking ball stormed out the gates in the first round before fading down the stretch in both fights. If those fights had five rounds, Smith suspected a different outcome.
Anthony Smith believes that Khamzat Chimaev can beat anybody across any weight class in a one-round fight:
“I’m a real big believer in Khamzat. I think the guy’s incredible…
First round, I think Khamzat can beat anybody, across any weight class. I don’t give a sh*t who it is.… pic.twitter.com/u7ydJrzP96
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 18, 2024
Chimaev’s pressure fighting and fast-starting maulings have made him a must-see attraction in the UFC. However, Smith harbored doubts about the 30-year-old’s prospects in lengthier, five-round bouts. He questioned whether the all-action phenom could maintain his whirlwind pace beyond the opening round.
Former rival comes to Khamzat Chimaev’s aid
Khamzat Chimaev prepares for the biggest fight of his career against Robert Whittaker. A growing chorus of doubters has emerged after his last fight. But one very notable name is coming to the Chechen phenom’s defense.
Khamzat Chimaev defeated Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 ( Image via Imago )It is none other than former UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman, who battled Chimaev last October, came to his support. He said the haters were sleeping on his former foe’s skills. According to Usman, Chimaev was getting much hate ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia’s headline bout against Whittaker.
I think because of (our) fight, people are kind of downplaying his skills whether he’s good or not, everyone’s saying ‘Oh he’s not that good,’ but I was champion so I think he’s getting the short end of the stick.
Kamaru Usman via The Pound 4 Pound Podcast
The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ lost a narrow decision to Chimaev in their middleweight clash. He actually believed his competitive performance against “Borz” should be viewed as a credit to Chimaev’s prowess, not a knock. Usman understood the skepticism about Chimaev’s five-round abilities better than most.
The former welterweight champion instantly felt the Chechen dynamo’s pace dip once the middle rounds hit. Whether Chimaev solves that puzzle against Whittaker remains to be seen. According to Usman, the menacing Chimaev is still vastly underrated.
