Photo by Todd Lussier/Zuffa LLC
Rising UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev said he wanted to KO Gerald Meerschaert to halt comparisons between him and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Khamzat Chimaev’s meteoric rise to MMA relevancy continued unabated this weekend when the Chechen-Swede demolished Gerald Meerschaert on the main card of UFC Vegas 11. Chimaev took just 17 seconds to knock the American out cold and earn his third UFC win in two months.
After his victory ‘Borz’ spoke to the media about his brutal one punch finish of Meerschaert. Chimaev said he was hoping to win in this fashion because he wanted to end comparisons between him and another UFC fighter from the North Caucuses.
“Yeah because everybody say, ‘You are Khabib, Khabib No. 2,’ something like that – but I am Khamzat,” said Chimaev (ht MMA Fighting). “I can knock out people. Smash the people. Everything. I have everything.”
Along with Meerschaert, Chimaev has ‘smashed’ Rhys McKee (by first round ground and pound) and John Phillips (by second round d’arce choke) in UFC action. The All-Stars gym prodigy came to the promotion after a run with Brave CF. He’s finished all 8 of his professional bouts by KO/TKO or submission.
Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has 20 more wins than Chimaev. The Dagestani has 8 KO/TKO wins on his record and 10 wins by submission. ‘The Eagle’ has won his last two bouts by submission (over Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor). Up next for him is a title fight with Justin Gaethje (or possibly Michael Chandler).
Supposedly up next for Chimaev is a bout with former UFC middleweight and welterweight title challenger Demian Maia. That bout was mentioned by Dana White as being Chimaev’s next fight, which he oddly announced prior to the Meerschaert fight.
In his press conference Chimaev sounded onboard for a tilt with one of MMA’s greatest grapplers.
“I am ready for everybody,” Chimaev said. “Like I said to Dana, if you give me Demian Maia I am ready for him. If they give me Brock Lesnar, I am ready for him also.”