Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev has taken the MMA world by storm since bursting onto the scene in 2018. With an undefeated professional record of 12-0, "Borz" has proven to be one of the most dominant fighters in recent memory. In this blog post, we‘ll take a deep dive into Chimaev‘s fight record and examine what makes his achievements so impressive.
Background and Early Career
Born on May 1st, 1994 in the Chechen Republic, Khamzat Chimaev began wrestling at just 5 years old. He went on to win a bronze medal in the Russian National Junior Championships, showcasing his prodigious talent from a young age.
In 2013, Chimaev migrated to Sweden with his mother and brother when he was 18 years old. He quickly established himself as one of the best freestyle wrestlers in the country, winning gold at the Swedish National Championships in 2016 and 2017.
After achieving great success in wrestling, Chimaev transitioned to MMA at age 23. Training at the Allstar Training Center in Stockholm alongside UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson, he made his amateur debut in September 2017.
Chimaev tore through the amateur scene, winning all three of his fights by first round stoppage. This dominant run earned him a professional contract with Brave CF in 2018.
Undefeated Run in Brave CF
Chimaev made his professional debut on May 26th, 2018 at Brave CF 14, defeating Seyed Isa Ghoddosi by first round TKO. Just three weeks later, he returned to action at Brave CF 15 and submitted Anton Turkalj in 67 seconds.
After two wins in two months to begin his career, Chimaev earned a shot at the Brave CF Welterweight title in September 2018. He dominated John Redmond to win the belt via first round KO.
Three months later, Chimaev took a fight at middleweight against Stephen O‘Keefe at Brave CF 22. He made quick work of his opponent, winning by rear naked choke submission in the first round.
In his final Brave CF appearance in March 2019, Borz moved back down to welterweight to defend his title against Ibragim Ibragimov. Again, Chimaev needed less than one round, knocking Ibragimov out in just 38 seconds.
Signing with the UFC
With a flawless 5-0 record, including four straight first round finishes, Chimaev caught the eye of the UFC brass. They wasted no time signing the red-hot prospect in July 2020.
Just 10 days after signing with the promotion, the UFC booked Chimaev against John Phillips on “Fight Island” at UFC 251. Despite the short notice debut, he demolished Phillips by D’arce choke in the second round.
One month later at UFC 252, Chimaev returned to action against Rhys McKee. He set a new record for shortest turnaround between UFC wins at just 10 days. Chimaev submitted McKee in the first round with a rear naked choke.
The ultra-impressive 10 day, two-fight run showed that Khamzat was ready for a massive step up in competition.
Breakout Year in 2020
Chimaev was matched against highly ranked welterweight Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in October 2020. He cemented his status as a top contender by knocking out Li in the first round. This marked Borz’s first victory over a ranked opponent.
Just three weeks later, Chimaev replaced Leon Edwards in a main event bout against #3 ranked Neil Magny at UFC Vegas 17. He dispatched Magny via first round submission, proving his incredible durability fighting twice in 21 days.
With four dominant UFC wins in just three months, it was clear that Khamzat Chimaev was the real deal. But the wear of so much activity in a short time finally caught up to him.
Battling COVID-19
In early 2021, Chimaev contracted a severe case of COVID-19 that forced him out of a scheduled matchup against top contender Leon Edwards.
His conditioning was severely impacted after a difficult battle with the virus, resulting in persistent fatigue and respiratory issues. Chimaev was forced to withdraw from two more scheduled bouts in 2021 as he worked to fully recover.
After over a year away from competition, there were questions if Khamzat could return to the same elite form he had shown.
Triumphant Return Against Diaz
When Chimaev finally made his comeback against Nate Diaz in September 2022 at UFC 279, he left no doubts about his status. He absolutely dominated Diaz before the fight was stopped at the end of the third round on the doctor‘s advice.
Chimaev showcased vicious wrestling skills, taking Diaz down at will and mauling him with devastating ground and pound. The win showcased that his skills were just as sharp as before his long layoff.
Legacy and What‘s Next
In just four years as a professional fighter, Khamzat Chimaev has racked up an astounding 12-0 record against largely overmatched opponents. His blend of explosive wrestling, brute strength, and finishing instincts has many considering him a future UFC champion.
As it stands, Chimaev is unquestionably one of the top welterweight contenders in the UFC today. His wrestling ability paired with massive power gives him a style that not many opponents can handle.
While he has dominated everyone put in front of him so far, Chimaev’s legacy will be defined by how he performs against the elite of the welterweight division. Matchups with champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington and Leon Edwards will truly test Khamzat’s skills.
At just 28 years old and still improving every time out, no one is sure just how good Borz can become. But it’s clear that Khamzat Chimaev has the potential to become one of the most dominant champions the UFC has ever seen. His flawless fight record so far shows all the signs of an all-time great in the making.
