Khamzat Chimaev News

Khamzat-Chimaev, Dana White
Conor McGregor

Khamzat Chimaev vows to smash "chicken" Conor McGregor for messing with his "big brother"

Chris Taylor - December 26, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev has vowed to smash Conor McGregor after the Irishman took aim at his “big brother” on Christmas evening. After announcing that he is expecting his third child with Dee Devlin on Christmas morning, McGregor later went from cheer to jeer by attacking Ali Abdelaziz on social media.

Mike Chiesa, UFC Fight Island 8
Leon Edwards

Michael Chiesa, Neil Magny slated for January 20 fight, could "serve as backup" for Edwards vs. Chimaev

Tom Taylor - December 22, 2020

Ranked welterweight contenders Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny have reportedly agreed to fight on January 20 on Fight Island. While this is a big fight for the welterweight division in its own right, either of the two men could apparently get the call to step in should Leon Edwards or Khamzat Chimaev fail to make it to the cage for the card’s main event.

Geoff Neal
Khamzat Chimaev

Geoff Neal sees both sides to Khamzat Chimaev getting Leon Edwards fight

Drake Riggs - December 17, 2020

Streaking welterweight contender Geoff Neal is prepared to compete in his biggest fight yet. But originally, he wasn’t supposed to be UFC Vegas 17’s main event. On December 19, Neal is set to take on former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. For the 30-year old Contender Series alum, this will be his first time as a UFC headliner.

Kevin-Holland
Khamzat Chimaev

Kevin Holland calls Khamzat Chimaev a "wannabe gangster"

Adam Martin - December 17, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland called Khamzat Chimaev a “wannabe gangster” after hearing “crickets” following his recent call-out. Holland knocked out veteran Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 last weekend with punches off his back on the ground. It was another incredible victory for Holland, who is 5-0 in 2020, with all five of his fights coming since May. After knocking Souza out in a $50,000 bonus-winning performance, Holland called out Chimaev, one of the hottest fighters in the UFC right now at either 170lbs or 180lbs. Chimaev currently has a date set with Leon Edwards for January 20 on Fight Island, but that didn’t stop Holland from calling the Swede out.

Stephen Thompson, Nick Diaz
Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson: Khamzat Chimaev's promotional push is "a slap in the face to everybody who’s worked their butts off’

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020

Stephen Thompson says the push Khamzat Chimaev is getting from the UFC is “”a slap in the face to everybody who’s worked their butts off” in the promotion. Chimaev was one of the breakout stars of 2020 for the UFC, rattling off stoppage wins over John Philips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert in the span of a few months. Despite the fact that he’s yet to be beat a ranked opponent, and that his lone welterweight win came against McKee, who is now 0-2 in the division, Chimaev has been given a fight with No. 3-ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards.

Kevin-Holland
Khamzat Chimaev

Video | Kevin Holland issues a challenge to Khamzat Chimaev

Adam D Martin - December 13, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland has issued a challenge to Khamzat Chimaev, challenging him to a fight at next week’s UFC Vegas 17. Holland is one of the most active fighters on the UFC roster. Since May, Holland has fought five times in the Octagon, winning all five of those fights, including a brutal KO win over Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 that should cement his place in the top-15 of the UFC middleweight division. Not surprisingly considering how often Holland likes to fight, he used his post-fight interview after the win over Souza as an opportunity to call out another fighter who likes to step into the cage as often as possible in Chimaev.

Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev targeted to headline January event on Fight Island

Cole Shelton - December 10, 2020

Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev are expected to headline a Fight Night card on Fight Island. Originally, Edwards and Chimaev were expected to headline the final event of 2020 on December 19 in Las Vegas. However, the fight was postponed after Edwards tested positive for COVID-19 but it appears the promotion is moving quickly to rebook it.

Neil Magny
Neil Magny

Neil Magny open to fighting Khamzat Chimaev on short notice

Adam Martin - December 2, 2020

Veteran UFC welterweight Neil Magny says he’s open to fighting top prospect Khamzat Chimaev on short notice later this month at UFC Vegas 17. Chimaev was set to face off against No. 3 ranked Leon Edwards in the biggest fight of his career on December 19 in Las Vegas. The fight was scheduled for five rounds and was set to be the main event. Unfortunately, disaster struck. After reports emerged that Chimaev had contracted COVID-19 and the fight was up in the air, it turned out that Edwards is actually the one who has COVID-19, and of course, the fight has been postponed until sometime in 2021 when Edwards recovers from the illness.

Khamzat Chimaev
Leon Edwards

Khamzat Chimaev "good to go" for Leon Edwards fight despite reports of COVID-19 positive test

Adam Martin - November 29, 2020

UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev says he’s “good to go” for the Leon Edwards fight despite reports of a COVID-19 positive test. Chimaev and Edwards will meet in the main event of UFC Vegas 17 on December 19. This five-round welterweight bout between two of the top-15 ranked fighters in the division is one of the most highly-anticipated bouts that fans are looking forward to. It’s the last UFC fight scheduled to take place in 2020, and the promotion is looking for the year to end with a bang as Chimaev vs. Edwards has the potential to be fireworks.

Khamzat Chimaev, Leon Edwards, Dana White
Khamzat Chimaev

"Wonderboy" shares theory about UFC's big push of Khamzat Chimaev

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2020

Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has a theory about why the UFC is giving such a huge promotional push to rising contender Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev, who is now 3-0 in the UFC, is one of the most hyped fighters on the UFC roster at present, and has been rewarded with a massive fight against No. 3-ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards.

Khamzat Chimaev
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev gets ranked at welterweight after Nate Diaz and Rafael dos Anjos are removed

Cole Shelton - November 16, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev is now a ranked welterweight. Ever since Chimaev’s dominant stretch on Fight Island, many clamored for him to be ranked. Yet, that did not happen and after he KO’d Gerald Meerschaert with one-punch, the Swede was booked against Leon Edwards in the main event.

Khamzat Chimaev, UFC 279
Nate Diaz

Khamzat Chimaev trolls the Diaz Brothers with hilarious photo

Christopher Taylor - November 15, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev (9-0 MMA) continues to callout the Diaz Brothers, this despite being booked to fight Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 186. The Russian-born Swedish fighter has had a meteoric rise to fame following his three stoppage victories in just over two month’s while competing under the UFC banner.

Ian Heinisch
Ian Heinisch

Ian Heinisch calls for Khamzat Chimaev fight: "If he wants to test himself against a middleweight, I’m a top-15 guy"

Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020

Ian Heinisch is hoping to fight Khamzat Chimaev the next time the Swede fights at middleweight. Before Chimaev was booked to fight Leon Edwards at welterweight, he said he was having a tough time getting an opponent. However, Heinisch says that is not true as he and Neil Magny made it clear they wanted that fight.

Gerald-Meerschaert-Khamzat-Chimaev-UFC
Khamzat Chimaev

Gerald Meerschaert willing to do “whatever it takes” to get a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev

Adam Martin - October 30, 2020

UFC middleweight Gerald Meerschaert says he will do “whatever it takes” in order to secure a rematch with top prospect Khamzat Chimaev. Meerschart met Chimaev in early September in Las Vegas in the third fight of the young Swede’s UFC career. The promotion’s matchmakers wanted to give Chimaev a step up against a veteran and Meerschaert answered the call. However, the middleweight wasn’t happy that the UFC also booked Chimaev against Demian Maia, calling the move “disrespectful.” Not long after the comments, the Maia fight ended up falling through.

Chris Weidman
Khamzat Chimaev

Chris Weidman explains why UFC passed on booking the Khamzat Chimaev fight

Adam Martin - October 29, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman explained why the UFC passed on booking him in the fight against top prospect Khamzat Chimaev. Weidman broke his long losing skid with a unanimous decision win over Omari Akhmedov in his last outing. Since then, Weidman has been calling for some of the top dogs in the middleweight division such as Derek Brunson and Paulo Costa. Another fighter who Weidman mentioned as a potential opponent in Chimaev. Most fighters didn’t seem to be interested in being matched up with the Swede, but Weidman was out there calling for it.

Neil Magny
Leon Edwards

Neil Magny reacts to Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards booking

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Neil Magny has reacted to a newly confirmed matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards. Chimaev, the hottest prospect in MMA at present, and Edwards, the UFC’s No. 3-ranked welterweight contender, are scheduled to collide on December 19.

Khamzat Chimaev
Kamaru Usman

Khamzat Chimaev makes bold predictions for fights with Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman

Tom Taylor - October 28, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev likes his chances against Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman, who hold the UFC middleweight and welterweight titles respectively. Chimaev was the breakout UFC star of summer, 2020. The Chechen-Swede first picked up two wins in the span of 10 days on Fight Island in July, defeating John Phillips by first-round submission and Rhys McKee by first-round TKO, then picked up his third win of the season when he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 11, also in the first round.

Khamzat Chimaev, Conor McGregor
Leon Edwards

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards betting odds released

Adam Martin - October 25, 2020

The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming welterweight main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards. Chimaev is one of the hottest fighters in the sport right now. Since making his UFC debut on Fight Island in July, Chimaev has defeated John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and Gerald Meerschaert, all by stoppage. He has been asking the UFC for a big fight since the Meerschaert KO in September, and the promotion was finally able to land an opponent.