The Dominance of Khamzat Chimaev: Is He the Next Middleweight Champion?

Born in Chechnya, Russia, and later moving to Sweden, Khamzat Chimaev's background is the reason behind his fighting identity. He began training in wrestling at a young age and later transitioned to MMA.

Khamzat Chimaev burst onto the UFC scene in 2020 when he beat John Phillips via D'arce choke at middleweight. Just ten days later he was back in the octagon this time beating Rhys McKee at welterweight without absorbing a single strike. Two months later he returned to middleweight as he knocked out MMA veteran Gerlad Meerschaert inside 20 seconds.

With three wins in the space of three months, in two different weight classes, the fighter from Chechnya had MMA fans in awe of Chimaev's dominance and his activity. Since then he has had four fights and secured four victories including a hard-fought win over top welterweight contender Gilbert Burns and a middleweight bout over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Although the two are not directly affiliated, Chimaev is often compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov due to their shared Russian heritage and dominant grappling style. However, Chimaev has carved out his own identity in the sport, and while he respects Khabib, he has made it clear that he is focused on creating his own legacy.

Can Khamzat Chimaev Emerge Out Of The Pack At Middleweight And Be The Next Challenger?

Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman//Getty

Chimaev is a strong contender for the UFC middleweight championship, but whether he'll become the next champion is an interesting debate. He recently moved up to the middleweight division and has already made a significant impact by defeating former 170 pounds champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. He has since been given the eleventh ranking in the division despite not fighting a ranked opponent in this new weight class.

The current UFC middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, is a tough and experienced fighter who has his own unique style that could pose challenges for Chimaev. The South African just recently defeated former multiple time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya via submission, at UFC 305, so he will be feeling super confident having defeated one of the best strikers the sport has ever seen.

But, Khamzat Chimaev poses a threat that not many others can; Chimaev’s grappling, relentless pressure, and evolving striking are his key strengths, and he would likely adopt a wrestle-heavy approach against the current champ. But before he gets the title shot he'll need to continue proving himself against top middleweight contenders, starting with former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.

Chimaev has the skills to become the next champion, but the middleweight division is highly competitive, and winning the title would require him to maintain his unbeaten streak against the best in the division, potentially also including a fight against another former champ Sean Strickland.

Chimaev made history in the UFC by winning two fights in just 10 days in July 2020, which is a record in the modern era of the promotion, and he could make yet more history if he was to become an undefeated UFC middleweight champion.