Background and career
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 former UFC Middleweight Champion. As of 12 May 2026, he is #1 in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings, and as of 23 June 2026, he is #12 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. In freestyle wrestling, Chimaev is a three-time Swedish national champion. He is currently signed to the Cruiserweight division of Real American Freestyle (RAF).
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.
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. In addition to wrestling, Chimaev has competed in several 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. On 18 April 2026 during the RAF 08 broadcast, it was announced that Chimaev had signed with Real American Freestyle. He headlined RAF 10 on 13 June 2026 against Dillon Danis in a 205 lb Catchweight bout. Chimaev won the match by pinfall in 44 seconds, marking the fastest pin in RAF history. Chimaev faced Tyron Woodley in the main event on 5 September 2026 at RAF Moscow. He won by pinfall in the first round. Chimaev faced Gilbert Burns on 18 September 2026 at RAF 13. He won the match by technical fall. Chimaev is scheduled to face Robbie Lawler in the co-main event on 23 October 2026 at RAF 14.
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.
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.
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.
