Khamzat Chimaev
Active 2020–present · rated in 4 editions across 2 divisions · peak overall 91.0
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Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight
Scouting report
Khamzat Chimaev fought stretches of his UFC career at middleweight, training in Sweden and refining his striking at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket. He beat former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 and, on ten days' notice, decisioned former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, building toward a middleweight title shot against Dricus du Plessis. His 87 Wrestling rating remained his baseline tool across both middleweight editions, while his Fight IQ rose to 86 in the later edition.
Peak ratings
By edition
Chimaev delivered a promotional entrance in 2020, winning two fights in ten days on Fight Island against John Phillips and Rhys McKee, followed by a first-round knockout of Gerald Meerschaert in Las Vegas and a first-round rear-naked choke submission of Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. His wrestling dominance and power are reflected in an 97 Wrestling and 86 Boxing.
Chimaev defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision at UFC 273 in 2022, submitted Kevin Holland in round one at UFC 279, and defeated former pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi over three rounds. His freestyle wrestling control, physical strength, and explosive boxing power justify his 98 Wrestling and 87 Boxing.
Khamzat Chimaev at 185: from prospect to champion
At middleweight Khamzat Chimaev beat Kamaru Usman by majority decision in 2023, submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round in 2024, and then beat Dricus du Plessis by decision for the title in 2025. He became a champion by leaning on the same wrestling he always had, but with more patience. This card is the polished version. For a draft, that makes him a card you can build around from the first pick. Almost every rating is above 85, and his best one is close to the top of the entire pool.
Middleweight ratings, broken out
Boxing. Very good at 87. His hands are heavy and he mixes them with takedown entries.
Kickboxing. His lowest rating at 80. Kicks are used sparingly.
Wrestling. His best at 98. He takes people down and keeps them there.
BJJ. Excellent at 90. He moves easily from control to a finish.
Strength. Very high at 90. He overpowers most of the division.
Durability. Good at 86. He has faced a lot of pressure without breaking.
Cardio. Good at 86. The pace holds up well into the later rounds.
Fight IQ. Excellent at 90. He is clear about what he wants and executes it.
The number to chase: Wrestling at 98
Wrestling at 98 sets the tone. At middleweight it is a rare combination of speed, strength and pressure that lets him choose the fight.
Where he is thinner: Kickboxing
Kickboxing at 80 is still solid, but it is the lowest rating. A long striker who keeps the fight standing is his most realistic problem, since range is the one tool that keeps his wrestling from starting.
Khamzat Chimaev at welterweight
Scouting report
Chimaev submitted John Phillips in the second round at UFC Fight Island 1 in Abu Dhabi on July 15, 2020. Ten days later, at UFC Fight Island 3, he stopped Rhys McKee — the two finishes inside ten days set a record for the fastest turnaround between UFC bouts. His welterweight card from this period, the UFC 4 (2020) edition, rates him at 87 Boxing, 87 Wrestling, 88 Cardio, and 90 Overall, reflecting the physical profile he showed before facing higher-ranked opposition.
Peak ratings
Khamzat Chimaev, the Chechen-born fighter who arrived fully formed
Khamzat Chimaev fights for Sweden and trains with a heavy wrestling emphasis. Early in his run in the top promotion he finished several opponents in a short span, and later he beat Gilbert Burns in a hard fight. He also moved up to middleweight and won the title. Draft him for smothering pressure.
Chimaev, category by category
Boxing. Powerful and direct. He walks forward and swings with clear intent.
Kickboxing. The lowest of his tools. He uses kicks less than his hands.
Wrestling. The peak of his card. He takes people down at will and stays heavy on top.
BJJ. Very good. He hunts for chokes and finishes from dominant position.
Strength. Excellent. He is strong for the weight class and uses it in scrambles.
Durability. Good. Fewer opponents have hurt him, though the deepest fights raised some questions.
Cardio. Solid. Fights against Burns showed he can work through a tough pace.
Fight IQ. High. He sets up a takedown and follows a clear plan.
Wrestling with a sense of menace
Chimaev's takedowns are fast and forceful, and opponents rarely get away once they are down. It changes what the other side can plan. If you need someone to impose their will on a fight, this is the trait.
Striking at range is the leaner part: Kickboxing
His kicking is the part of his game that gets the least attention. A rangy opponent who keeps distance can force him to work harder to close. It is a small gap compared with his other tools.
Keep exploring
Closest middleweight profiles to Khamzat Chimaev, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Chris Weidmanbest wrestling 93 · weakest kickboxing 80
- Dricus du Plessisbest strength 91 · weakest bjj 85
- Ronaldo Souzabest bjj 96 · weakest kickboxing 75
- Marvin Vettoribest durability 93 · weakest kickboxing 80
- Middleweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Welterweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Khamzat Chimaev's strongest attribute, Wrestling.
Draft Khamzat Chimaev into your build
Khamzat Chimaev enters the pool on any spin landing on middleweight or welterweight between 2020 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are our own, built from independent research and from how Khamzat Chimaev is regarded by the MMA community, with earlier MMA video games used only as a starting baseline for the scale. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Khamzat Chimaev's real-world abilities. See the disclaimer below. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read how we check our write-ups in our editorial standards.