Khamzat Chimaev, who will compete on Saturday at UFC 273 against Gilbert Burns, said he got into MMA thanks to… Conor McGregor.
How did one of the best fighters decide to step into a cage? Simply by admiring one of the best. Aged 27, the Swede of Chechen origin, who started freestyle wrestling at the age of 5 and participated in judo and sambo tournaments, discovered MMA at the age of 23.
The revelation came to him one evening in December 2015 when Conor McGregor inflicted one of the fastest knockouts in history against José Aldo at UFC 194.
“I see the guy, McGregor, knocking him out,” Khamzat Chimaev said in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. I thought to myself that if this light guy could do this kind of thing, then why couldn’t I do it? Mentally I’m stronger than him, my body is stronger than him. I thought to myself that if, at that time, I met him outside, I could break him, you know. If he makes that money, then why not me?”
The one who is nicknamed “the wolf” is considered one of the best in the UFC. His fights are recitals. He has a fairly impressive record with 10 wins in 10 fights: 6 knockouts and 4 submissions.
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