Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev exploded onto the UFC scene with a relentless fighting style and an undefeated record, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about athletes in mixed martial arts. Born in Chechnya and forged in Swedish wrestling, his journey to becoming a UFC champion is a tale of raw talent and unwavering ambition. Discover how "Borz" — the wolf — hunted down his destiny in the octagon. Khamzat Chimaev's foundation in elite freestyle wrestling heavily influences his dominant grappling-centric MMA style. He holds multiple modern UFC records for fastest consecutive wins and quick finishes, demonstrating his rapid rise and destructive power. Despite a serious battle with COVID-19 that nearly ended his career, Chimaev overcame adversity to become a UFC Middleweight Champion.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Khamzat Chimaev's foundation in elite freestyle wrestling heavily influences his dominant grappling-centric MMA style.
He holds multiple modern UFC records for fastest consecutive wins and quick finishes, demonstrating his rapid rise and destructive power.
Despite a serious battle with COVID-19 that nearly ended his career, Chimaev overcame adversity to become a UFC Middleweight Champion.

The Rise of "Borz"

Born Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev on May 1, 1994, in Gvardeyskoye, Chechen Republic, this formidable athlete is now a Russian-Emirati professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler. Known by his fierce moniker "Borz" — Chechen for "Wolf" — Chimaev has carved a path of dominance, culminating in his current reign as the UFC Middleweight Champion.

A Wrestler's Foundation

Chimaev's journey into combat sports began early, wrestling from the tender age of five in his Chechen village. His exceptional talent was evident, reportedly earning him a bronze medal at the Russian National Championships at the junior level before his family emigrated to Sweden when he was 18.

In Sweden, Chimaev continued to hone his craft, quickly establishing himself as one of the nation's best freestyle wrestlers. He captured multiple Swedish National Championships at both 86 kg and 92 kg, showcasing a truly dominant style. Across three tournaments, he posted an incredible 12-0 record, with seven technical falls, three pins, and outscoring opponents by a combined 105-2.

His wrestling prowess isn't just for amateur accolades. In a high-profile freestyle wrestling match, he faced and defeated fellow UFC contender Jack Hermansson, demonstrating that his grappling skills translate even against elite competition outside the MMA cage.

From Fan to Fighter

The spark for Chimaev's MMA career ignited during a night shift at work. Taking a 15-minute break, he watched Conor McGregor's iconic main event against Jose Aldo at UFC 194. This moment of inspiration led him to ask, "Why can't I do it? I'm a fighter, I'm a warrior and I have something special inside me." This revelation set him on a new path.

At 23, Chimaev began formal MMA training at the renowned Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, Sweden. He joined a formidable group, including UFC veterans Alexander Gustafsson, Ilir Latifi, and Reza Madadi. Gustafsson, one of his main training partners, recognized Chimaev's extraordinary potential early on, hailing him as one of the best fighters he'd ever trained with.

Amateur Dominance, Professional Debut

Between September 2017 and April 2018, Chimaev competed in three amateur MMA fights, quickly dispatching each opponent. He notably defeated future IMMAF World Champion Khaled Laallam via submission, finishing his amateur career with a perfect 3-0 record, a clear sign of the talent to come.

Turning professional in May 2018, Chimaev wasted no time making an impact. His debut at International Ring Fight Arena 14 saw him secure a TKO victory in the second round, followed by a first-round rear-naked choke submission in his next outing. The professional world was quickly taking notice.

Brave Combat Federation Stint

After his impressive start in Sweden, Chimaev signed with the Middle Eastern promotion, Brave Combat Federation. His promotional debut against Marko Kisič ended emphatically with a first-round TKO, as Chimaev dropped his opponent with a powerful left hand, continuing his undefeated streak.

Chimaev's time at Brave CF was a blur of rapid, destructive wins. He secured a 35-second TKO against Sidney Wheeler and later delivered a highlight-reel uppercut knockout against former combat sambo World Champion Ikram Aliskerov, earning him Brave's 'Knockout of the Night' award.

His planned title challenge for the BCF Welterweight Championship was unfortunately postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this unforeseen disruption paved the way for an even bigger opportunity: a call from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Unprecedented UFC Ascent

Khamzat Chimaev's UFC debut in July 2020 was nothing short of explosive. Competing at middleweight, he quickly submitted John Phillips in the second round, earning his first 'Performance of the Night' bonus and instantly capturing the attention of the MMA world.

Just ten days later, Chimaev stepped back into the octagon, this time at welterweight, to face Rhys McKee. He secured a first-round TKO victory, earning another 'Performance of the Night' bonus and shattering a modern UFC record for the fastest consecutive wins in history.

His incredible run continued with a stunning 17-second knockout of veteran Gerald Meerschaert. This third consecutive 'Performance of the Night' bonus also set another modern UFC record: the quickest three-fight winning streak in just 66 days, solidifying his status as a truly special prospect.

Battle Outside the Octagon

Chimaev's meteoric rise faced an unexpected and severe challenge when he contracted COVID-19 in December 2020. The debilitating lingering symptoms led to multiple hospitalizations and the cancellation of three highly anticipated bouts against Leon Edwards, halting his momentum.

At one point, the severity of his condition led him to publicly announce his retirement from the sport on Instagram, a deeply emotional moment. However, UFC President Dana White quickly clarified that Chimaev was not truly retired, attributing the statement to the stress and side effects of his recovery.

The Resilient Return

After a year-long hiatus, Chimaev made a triumphant return at UFC 267 against Li Jingliang. In a dominant display, he dramatically picked up his opponent and choked him unconscious with a rear-naked choke in the first round, earning his fourth 'Performance of the Night' award.

His next challenge was a grueling test against top contender Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. In a thrilling, back-and-forth 'Fight of the Night' war, Chimaev secured his first career decision victory, proving his durability and ability to overcome adversity against an elite opponent.

A controversial weigh-in miss for a main event against Nate Diaz at UFC 279 led to a change of opponent. Undeterred, Chimaev faced Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout, swiftly submitting him with a D'Arce choke in the first round, once again showcasing his predatory finishing instincts.

Returning to middleweight, Chimaev faced former champion Kamaru Usman, securing a majority decision victory. He followed this with a dominant first-round face-crank submission against Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, earning yet another 'Performance of the Night' award and dislocating Whittaker's jaw.

UFC Middleweight Champion

On August 16, 2025, Khamzat Chimaev faced Dricus du Plessis for the coveted UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 319. After a dominant five-round performance, Chimaev was awarded a unanimous decision victory, securing his first UFC title and his sixth 'Performance of the Night' bonus.

This monumental win not only crowned him champion but also set new records for total strikes landed (529) and control time (21:40) in a UFC title fight, making him the first Chechen-born fighter to achieve UFC championship gold. He is now set to defend his title against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328.

Fighting Style: The "Borz" Blueprint

Chimaev's fighting style is a masterclass in controlled aggression, deeply rooted in his elite freestyle wrestling. He consistently utilizes his grappling to secure takedowns, maintain dominant positions, and deliver punishing ground-and-pound or seek submissions, often compared to the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov for his relentless top control.

While a grappling specialist, "Borz" possesses formidable striking power from an orthodox stance, mixing basic boxing with impactful kicks. He's adept at using feinted takedowns to set up his powerful punches, as famously demonstrated by his 17-second knockout of Gerald Meerschaert.

Life Beyond the Octagon

A distinctive scar on Chimaev's lip is a lasting reminder of a childhood fall on concrete stairs, which also affected his breathing through one nostril. Before his professional fighting career, Chimaev worked at a poultry factory and as a security guard in Kalmar, Sweden, a humble beginning for a future champion.

Despite living in Sweden for many years, Chimaev retained his Russian citizenship. In 2023, he made a significant move to the United Arab Emirates, acquiring Emirati citizenship in January 2025. He now proudly represents the UAE, becoming the first athlete from the nation to win a UFC title.

Controversies and Connections

Chimaev maintains a close and often scrutinized association with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. This relationship has involved Kadyrov gifting Chimaev a Mercedes-Benz and allegedly influencing his decision to not retire during his battle with COVID-19.

His public appearances with Kadyrov, sparring sessions, and training Kadyrov's sons have drawn criticism from Chechen dissidents, who highlight the complex political implications of their ties. This aspect of his personal life adds another layer to the story of the formidable "Borz."

Article

Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev (born 1 May 1994) is a Russian-Emirati professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. In freestyle wrestling, Chimaev is a three-time Swedish national champion. As of 9 December 2025, he is #3 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

Early life and career

Khamzat Chimaev

Chimaev was born on 1 May 1994 in Gvardeyskoye, Chechen Republic, Russia to a poor and conservative Muslim Chechen family. He started wrestling at the age of five in the village of Gvardeyskoye. It has been reported he won a bronze medal at the Russian National Championships in the junior level. In 2013, when he was 18, he emigrated to Sweden with his mother, joining his older brother.

Combat sports career

Wrestling

After moving to Sweden, Chimaev wrestled at multiple clubs, including BK Athén. Considered one of the best freestyle wrestlers in the country, Chimaev won a gold medal at the 2016 and 2017 Swedish Freestyle National Championships at 86 kilograms, and in 2018 he did so at 92 kilograms. Chimaev has had a series of dominant performances in the tournaments, posting an overall record of 12–0, which includes three pins, seven technical falls and outscored his opponents by a combined score of 105-2 across the three tournaments. Chimaev has competed in a few judo tournaments and in four combat sambo fights.

Chimaev competed against fellow UFC contender Jack Hermansson in a freestyle wrestling match on 19 November 2021, at Sweden-based Bulldog Fight Night 9, winning on points.

Mixed martial arts career

Chimaev first started training in MMA when he was 23 years old. He trained at Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, along with three-time UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Alexander Gustafsson, Ilir Latifi and Reza Madadi among others. Gustafsson (one of his main training partners) told a Swedish reporter that Chimaev was one of the best fighters he had ever trained with, during a press conference in June 2019.

Early career

In an interview with ESPN, Chimaev claimed he was inspired to start training in MMA during a night at work where he took a 15-minute break to watch the Aldo vs. McGregor main event. Chimaev stated, "I was watching his [McGregor's] fight. I was watching him fight Aldo. I was sitting in night and was working. I was taking rest for 15 minutes and watched his fight. I always look at that like if the guys make so many money like millions and this stuff, why I can't do it now. I'm a fighter, I'm a warrior and I have something special inside me. I had to find some way and take out this to show to the people."

Between September 2017 and April 2018, Chimaev had three amateur MMA fights. The first of them was against future IMMAF World Champion Khaled Laallam, whom he defeated via submission in the second round. He won his following two amateur fights, one by submission and one by technical knockout, completing his amateur career with a record of 3–0.

Chimaev turned professional on 26 May 2018, at International Ring Fight Arena 14, against Gard Olve Sagen. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. Chimaev's next fight took place on 18 August 2018, against Ole Magnor at Fight Club Rush 3. He won via submission with a rear naked choke late in the first round.

Brave Combat Federation

After having his first two professional fights in Sweden, Chimaev signed with Middle Eastern organization Brave Combat Federation. He was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Benjamin Bennett on 16 November 2018, at Brave CF 18. However, Bennett withdrew from the bout and was replaced by undefeated prospect Marko Kisič. Chimaev won the fight via technical knockout in the first round after dropping his opponent with a left hand.

Chimaev had a quick turnaround for his next fight when he took on Sidney Wheeler on short notice on 22 December 2018, at Brave CF 20, replacing an injured Leon Aliu. He won the fight via technical knockout in 35 seconds into the first round.

He then fought Ikram Aliskerov on 19 April 2019, at Brave CF 23. This was Chimaev's debut in the welterweight division. He won the bout via knockout after landing an uppercut in the first round. This performance earned him Brave's Knockout of the Night award.

His fourth promotional fight came against Mzwandile Hlongwa on 4 October 2019, at Brave CF 27. Chimaev won the fight via submission in the second round.

Chimaev was expected to challenge Jarrah Al-Selawe for the BCF Welterweight Championship on 18 April 2020, at Brave CF 37, which would be the promotions first event in Chimaev's hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. However, the event would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the matchup was cancelled altogether when Chimaev signed with the UFC instead.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Chimaev made his promotional debut in a middleweight bout against John Phillips, replacing Duško Todorović, on 16 July 2020, at UFC on ESPN 13. He won the fight via submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Ten days after the fight against Phillips, Chimaev faced promotional newcomer Rhys McKee at welterweight on 25 July 2020, at UFC on ESPN 14. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. He earned his second Performance of the Night bonus award. This win also marked a new UFC record for the fastest consecutive wins in modern UFC history (ten days), although the official UFC record is still held by Royce Gracie, who achieved four consecutive wins within one night at UFC 2.

It was reported on 6 September 2020, that Chimaev would have another quick turnaround as he was booked to face Gerald Meerschaert on 19 September 2020, at UFC Fight Night 178. He won the fight against Meerschaert via knockout just 17 seconds into round one. This win earned him his third straight Performance of the Night award. This also earned him a new record, as it was the fastest three fight winning streak in modern UFC history (66 days).

Chimaev was scheduled to face Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC Fight Night 183 on 19 December 2020. In between, Chimaev was added to the UFC welterweight rankings, entering at #15. On 29 November, it was announced that Chimaev had tested positive for COVID-19, and the bout was declared to be in jeopardy. On 1 December, Edwards also tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was subsequently postponed. On 22 December, it was announced that the bout was rescheduled for 20 January 2021, at UFC Fight Night 185. Subsequently, Chimaev pulled out of the contest on 29 December due to his own COVID-19 recovery. As a result, the bout was momentarily cancelled. The pair was rescheduled once again to headline UFC Fight Night 187, on 13 March. However, on 11 February, UFC president Dana White announced the fight was once again cancelled due to Chimaev suffering from lingering effects of COVID-19.

On 1 March 2021, he announced on Instagram that he was retiring from the sport due to lung complications caused by COVID-19. Dana White later came out and said Chimaev was not retired and was just emotional after experiencing effects of prednisone for his lungs during a training session.

Chimaev returned to face Li Jingliang on 30 October 2021, at UFC 267. He won the bout via technical submission, choking Li unconscious with a rear-naked choke in round one. This win earned him his fourth straight Performance of the Night award.

Chimaev faced Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on 9 April 2022. Chimaev won the fight via unanimous decision, the first decision victory of his career. The fight was awarded the Fight of the Night award. The fight also earned him first place in the Crypto.com Fan Bonus of the Night award.

Chimaev was scheduled to face Nate Diaz on 10 September 2022 in the main event of UFC 279. At the weigh-ins, Chimaev weighed in at 178.5 pounds, seven and a half pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. As a result of missing weight, Chimaev was removed from his main event bout with Diaz, and instead faced Kevin Holland in the co-main event at a 180-pound catchweight bout. Holland was already set for a 180-pound catchweight bout against Daniel Rodriguez on the card. Chimaev won the bout via D'Arce Choke in the first round.

After a one-year layoff, Chimaev returned to middleweight on 21 October 2023, at UFC 294. Chimaev was originally scheduled to fight former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. However, due to surgery forcing Costa to pull out of the fight, Chimaev faced former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. He won the fight via majority decision.

Chimaev was scheduled to face former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker on 22 June 2024, at UFC on ABC 6. However, he was forced to pull out of the contest due to an illness and was replaced by Ikram Aliskerov.

Chimaev ended up facing Robert Whittaker on 26 October 2024 at UFC 308. He won the fight via a face-crank submission in the first round resulting in a dislocated jaw. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

UFC Middleweight Champion

Chimaev faced Dricus du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship on 16 August 2025 at UFC 319. He won the title via unanimous decision. This win earned Chimaev his sixth Performance of the Night award.

Chimaev is scheduled to make his first defense against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on 9 May 2026.

Training

Khamzat Chimaev

Chimaev has trained at Allstar Training Center in Stockholm, Sweden since he was 23 years of age. He moved there to start his MMA career in 2017, after previously living in another Swedish town, Kalmar, where he trained at the local wrestling club. Chimaev continues to train alongside current and former UFC fighters such as Alexander Gustafsson, Ilir Latifi and Reza Madadi, with the latter being his main trainer.

In 2022, Chimaev and UFC title challenger Darren Till got in contact to train with each other, with Till arriving in Stockholm in February, and have since been training at Allstars Training Center and shooting content for YouTube and Blockasset.

In an interview, Chimaev revealed he trains up to five times a day on the peak of training camps, and two to three times when he has no fights coming up.

Fighting style

Khamzat Chimaev

Chimaev often utilizes his freestyle wrestling in his fights to get his opponents to the ground. Once he is on top control, he employs different techniques to gain control over his opponents and land heavy ground-and-pound or seek submissions, while forcing his weight towards them. His grappling is very often compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov's, due to the similarities of the techniques, such as the handcuff lock and hooking the legs. Regarding strikes, Chimaev landed 192–2 in his first two UFC bouts utilizing this strategy. Chimaev also proved its effectiveness on the regional circuit as well, with a quick win over former two-time GHSA wrestling champion Sidney Wheeler after taking him down with an outside trip.

In addition to his grappling abilities, Chimaev will also strike in his contests. His striking involves heavy knockout power from the orthodox stance while utilizing basic boxing and mixing up kicks. He also uses his wrestling to set up his strikes by feinting different takedowns and vice versa. By using his striking, Chimaev has been able to knock out UFC veteran Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds with a single punch. He has previously used it to drop past opponents on the regional circuit, including former combat sambo World Champion Ikram Aliskerov. Chimaev's striking defense mainly depends on his grappling. Before his fight with Gilbert Burns, he had more victories (4) than total strikes received (2), with a lone significant strike. As of 2025, the Burns fight accounts for nearly 70% of the significant strikes Chimaev has absorbed in his nine UFC fights.

Personal life

Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat carries a notable scar on his lip, which he got at the age of two when he fell down on concrete stairs, leaving him unable to breathe correctly through one nostril.

Before he began competing professionally, he worked at a poultry factory in Kalmar and also did security work.

Khamzat has an older brother named Artur, who competes in freestyle wrestling.

Chimaev contracted COVID-19 in December 2020 and suffered lingering symptoms that required multiple hospitalizations and the cancelation of a scheduled fight against Leon Edwards.

Chimaev is close with fellow mixed martial artists Darren Till and Jack Hermansson.

Despite living in Sweden for many years, Chimaev never acquired Swedish citizenship, keeping his Russian citizenship. In 2023, Chimaev moved to the UAE, and later received citizenship in January 2025. He is the first athlete representing the United Arab Emirates to win a UFC title.

Association with Ramzan Kadyrov

Chimaev is close to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Kadyrov gifted Chimaev a Mercedes-Benz, which he crashed months later. Kadyrov also allegedly convinced Chimaev to not retire in March 2021 and go back to Chechnya, which led to speculation on the media on whether Chimaev had been forced to do so. Chimaev has sparred with Kadyrov, and appeared in multiple photoshoots with Kadyrov. In 2022, Chimaev began training Kadyrov's two teenage sons, Zelimkhan (Ali) and Adam. He was in Ali's corner at his professional MMA debut at ACA 150 in December, accompanied him to UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, and took him to train at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand.

Chimaev was present during a livestream in which Kadyrov threatened to kill a minor who criticized his repressive rule. In March 2022, Chechen dissidents criticized Chimaev's continued association with Kadyrov due to his repressive rule of the Chechen Republic.

Chimaev got married on 21 May 2022, in Chechnya and the wedding was attended by Kadyrov.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship • UFC Middleweight Championship (One time, Current) • Tied (Demetrious Johnson) for fourth most takedowns landed in a UFC title fight (12 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • First Chechen-born fighter to win a UFC championship • Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Gilbert Burns • Performance of the Night (Six times) vs. John Phillips, Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert, Li Jingliang, Robert Whittaker and Dricus du Plessis • Record for fastest consecutive wins in Modern UFC history (10 days) • Record for quickest three fight win streak in Modern UFC history (66 days) • Second most control time in a UFC fight (21:40 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • Second most takedowns landed in a UFC middleweight fight (12 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • Holds wins over three former UFC champions — vs. Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker & Dricus du Plessis • UFC Striking Records • Most total strikes landed in a UFC fight (529 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • Most total ground strikes landed in a UFC fight (517 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • Most total head strikes landed in a UFC fight (411 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • Second most total strikes attempted in a UFC fight (567 vs. Dricus du Plessis) • UFC Honors Awards • 2020: Fan's Choice Debut of the Year Winner vs. John Phillips • 2021: Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Nominee vs. Li Jingliang • 2022: President's Choice Fight of the Year Winner vs. Gilbert Burns • 2024: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee vs. Robert Whittaker • UFC.com Awards • 2020: Newcomer of the Year, Ranked #5 Fighter of the Year & Ranked #5 Knockout of the Year vs. Gerald Meerschaert • 2021: Ranked #9 Submission of the Year vs. Li Jingliang • 2022: Ranked #2 Fight of the Year vs. Gilbert Burns • 2024: Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker • Crypto.com • Fan Bonus of the Night vs. Gilbert Burns • Brave Combat Federation • Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Ikram Aliskerov • Nordic MMA Awards – MMAviking.com • 2018 Prospect of the Year • 2020 Male fighter of the Year • ESPN • 2020 Breakout Fighter of the Year • MMA Junkie • 2020 September Knockout of the Month vs. Gerald Meerschaert • 2020 Newcomer of the Year • 2024 Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 • 2024 October Submission of the Month vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 • MMA Fighting • 2020 Breakout Fighter of the Year • Combat Press • 2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year • 2024 Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 • BT Sport • 2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year • BodySlam.net • 2024 Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker • Yahoo! Sports • 2020 Prospect of the Year • 2024 Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 • MMA Mania • 2024 Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 • Bloody Elbow • 2020 Newcomer of the Year • Bleacher Report • 2020 Rising Star of the Year • 2021 Rising Star of the Year • 2024 Submission of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker • LowKick MMA • 2020 Prospect of the Year • Ministry of Physical Culture and Sport of the Chechen Republic • 2025 Athlete of the Year

Freestyle wrestling

• Swedish Wrestling Federation • 2018 Swedish Championships champion, 92 kg • 2016 Swedish Championships champion, 86 kg • 2016 Solacup Championships champion, 86 kg • 2015 Hammarslaget Championships champion, 86 kg • 2015 Swedish Championships champion, 86 kg • 2015 Lilla Mälarcupen Championships champion, 86 kg

Mixed martial arts record

Khamzat Chimaev

<table><thead><tr><th>Res.</th><th>Record</th><th>Opponent</th><th>Method</th><th>Event</th><th>Date</th><th>Round</th><th>Time</th><th>Location</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Win</td><td>15–0</td><td>Dricus du Plessis</td><td>Decision (unanimous)</td><td>UFC 319</td><td>16 August 2025</td><td>5</td><td>5:00</td><td>Chicago, Illinois, United States</td><td>Won the UFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>14–0</td><td>Robert Whittaker</td><td>Submission (face crank)</td><td>UFC 308</td><td>26 October 2024</td><td>1</td><td>3:34</td><td>Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td>Performance of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>13–0</td><td>Kamaru Usman</td><td>Decision (majority)</td><td>UFC 294</td><td>21 October 2023</td><td>3</td><td>5:00</td><td>Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td>Return to Middleweight.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>12–0</td><td>Kevin Holland</td><td>Submission (brabo choke)</td><td>UFC 279</td><td>10 September 2022</td><td>1</td><td>2:13</td><td>Las Vegas, Nevada, United States</td><td>Catchweight (180 lb) bout.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>11–0</td><td>Gilbert Burns</td><td>Decision (unanimous)</td><td>UFC 273</td><td>9 April 2022</td><td>3</td><td>5:00</td><td>Jacksonville, Florida, United States</td><td>Fight of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>10–0</td><td>Li Jingliang</td><td>Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)</td><td>UFC 267</td><td>30 October 2021</td><td>1</td><td>3:16</td><td>Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td>Performance of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>9–0</td><td>Gerald Meerschaert</td><td>KO (punch)</td><td>UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley</td><td>19 September 2020</td><td>1</td><td>0:17</td><td>Las Vegas, Nevada, United States</td><td>Middleweight bout. Performance of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>8–0</td><td>Rhys McKee</td><td>TKO (punches)</td><td>UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till</td><td>26 July 2020</td><td>1</td><td>3:09</td><td>Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td>Broke the record for quickest turnaround between UFC wins in the modern era (10 days). Performance of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>7–0</td><td>John Phillips</td><td>Submission (brabo choke)</td><td>UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige</td><td>16 July 2020</td><td>2</td><td>1:12</td><td>Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td>Middleweight bout. Performance of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>6–0</td><td>Mzwandile Hlongwa</td><td>Technical Submission (brabo choke)</td><td>Brave CF 27</td><td>4 October 2019</td><td>2</td><td>1:15</td><td>Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>5–0</td><td>Ikram Aliskerov</td><td>KO (punch)</td><td>Brave CF 23</td><td>19 April 2019</td><td>1</td><td>2:26</td><td>Amman, Jordan</td><td>Catchweight (180 lb) bout. Knockout of the Night.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>4–0</td><td>Sidney Wheeler</td><td>TKO (submission to punches)</td><td>Brave CF 20</td><td>22 December 2018</td><td>1</td><td>0:35</td><td>Hyderabad, India</td><td>Middleweight bout.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>3–0</td><td>Marko Kisič</td><td>TKO (punches)</td><td>Brave CF 18</td><td>16 November 2018</td><td>1</td><td>3:12</td><td>Manama, Bahrain</td><td>Welterweight debut.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>2–0</td><td>Ole Magnor</td><td>Submission (rear-naked choke)</td><td>Fight Club Rush 3</td><td>18 August 2018</td><td>1</td><td>4:23</td><td>Västerås, Sweden</td><td>Middleweight debut.</td></tr><tr><td>Win</td><td>1–0</td><td>Gard Olve Sagen</td><td>TKO (punches)</td><td>International Ring Fight Arena 14</td><td>26 May 2018</td><td>2</td><td>0:05</td><td>Uppsala, Sweden</td><td>Catchweight (176 lb) bout.</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table><thead><tr><th>Amateur record breakdown</th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>3 matches</td><td>3 wins</td><td>0 losses</td></tr><tr><td>By knockout</td><td>1</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>By submission</td><td>2</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>

Pay-per-view bouts

Khamzat Chimaev

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Event</th><th>Fight</th><th>Date</th><th>Venue</th><th>City</th><th>PPV buys</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1.</td><td>UFC 319</td><td>du Plessis vs. Chimaev</td><td>16 August 2025</td><td>United Center</td><td>Chicago, Illinois, United States</td><td>Not Disclosed</td></tr></tbody></table>