Khamzat Chimaev Opens as Heavy Favorite to “Smash” Demian Maia
The Train to Khamzat Chimaev Keeps Running
Since arriving at UFC, Khamzat Chimaev, the 26-year-old unbeaten fighter has caught the imagination of fight fans. His ability to go up and down the weight classes with ease while overcoming the competition has made him Dana White's eye apple. Recently the UFC boss has said Chimaev is the "most remarkable fighter" he's ever seen.
You'd still be inspired if you track his body of work in the UFC. He has "smashed" opponents while "taking money" in his words. Last July Chimaev set a new record for the smallest distance in modern-day octagonal victories. He knocked out former middleweight RFA champion Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds then last week.
Next up for him in November is a welterweight fight against Demian Maia, the submission specialist.
Two Wins in Ten Days
The Russian-born Swedish boxer beat Rhys Mckee on ESPN 14 at the Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in their welterweight bout at UFC. The knockout victory came 10 days after John Phillips was introduced in the same venue on short notice at UFC on ESPN 13. Chimaev's feat was 3 days better than Chas Kelly's previous 13-day milestone set in 2014. But what makes Chimaev's feat more remarkable is that he did so by pushing the weight classes effortlessly up and down.
"Bodz" last played at the Brave FC promotion as a welterweight, before being signed by the UFC. He decided to take a fight against Philips at short notice but at middleweight. He dropped back to welterweight 10 days later and knocked out McKee. More than winning straight fights in various weight divisions, losing weight in both has been more remarkable. Chimaev weighed in against Phillips at 186 pounds, then topped the scales 10 days later at 171 pounds.
Chimaev climbed into the octagon last weekend for the third time in just over two months. This time around he faced his first UFC test in Gerald Meerschaert against a legit middleweight. Meerschaert's biography, nor did it matter his two-inch edge. Borz also wanted a punch to throw away GM3. That is exactly how.
Khabib Comparisons
Chimaev was frequently compared to UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov because of his ability to fight and wrestle. Borz is a former gold medalist wresting Swedish Nationals and also has a little sambo fighting experience. He performs 4.67 takedowns every 15 minutes in the UFC, and has a 75% takedown accuracy. He definitely has some Khabib in him, with three choke victories to his name.
But Chimaev doesn't want to become the next Khabib. That was why he beat Meerschaert the way he did. Or at least that is what he claims. But you have to give it to him, with six knockout wins and three submission victories in an unbeaten nine-bout MMA career. But as he talks about battling Adesanya or even Brock Lesnar, maybe it's better if he's taking it one fight at a time. And so Demian Maia.
Online sportsbook BetOnline has Chimaev as a strong betting favorite - 500 against Maia. That means that to win $100 one needs a $500 bet on Borz. The Brazilian submission specialist returned for a $100 bet on Maia at +380, or a $380 split. Though Maia may not be the opponent who is going to challenge the Khamzat Chimaev train while the latter looks tantalizing.
Not a Big Challenge
Maia at this stage of their careers doesn't seem like a major danger to Chimaev. The human backpack is, of course, still one of the UFC's most dangerous submission specialists and is also the 7th rated welterweight in the promotion. But Demian Maia's success is more than likely behind him now.
Maia lost four of his last seven fights and Gilbert Burns is coming off a first-round knockout defeat. Yeah, his four defeats during that time were either to champions or championship challengers and indeed, Chimaev is not yet at that stage, but Maia is definitely beyond his peak and he has neither the striking nor the strength to draw Chimaev's interest.
Borz has faced bigger men before, and would be too tall and too heavy for Demian Maia with more than enough time to step down to 170 pounds. Until Chimaev does something insane like testing out his submission skills against Maia or giving up his back, there should be no excuse why he won't keep "smashing" forward and keeping the buzz rolling.
