Khamzat Chimaev touched down in Grozny, Chechnya, on August 20, 2025, fresh from his UFC 319 middleweight title win. Fans packed the airport, chanting for their hero. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov greeted him, wearing a Chimaev T-shirt. In a heartfelt gesture, Chimaev handed his UFC belt to Kadyrov, who held it high for photos, symbolizing pride for Chechnya. “I was one hundred percent sure of Khamzat’s victory,” Kadyrov said.
On August 16, 2025, Chimaev faced Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago’s United Center. He controlled the fight, landing 12 takedowns and 529 strikes over five rounds, winning by unanimous decision (50-44). His wrestling stifled Du Plessis, earning Chimaev a $50,000 bonus and the middleweight title, keeping his record at 15-0. The win made him the first Chechen UFC champion, a historic moment for his homeland.
Born May 1, 1994, in Gvardeyskoye, Chechnya, Chimaev grew up in a war-torn region. His family faced poverty, with his mother often skipping meals to feed her kids, per coach Alan Nascimento. At 19, he moved to Sweden as a refugee, training in wrestling and MMA. He started fighting professionally in 2017, going 6-0 in promotions like Brave CF before joining the UFC in 2020. His drive to support his family fueled his rise.
Chimaev exploded onto the UFC scene in July 2020 on Fight Island, submitting John Phillips and knocking out Rhys McKee in 10 days. He added quick finishes over Gerald Meerschaert (17-second KO), Li Jingliang, and Kevin Holland. A severe COVID-19 case in 2021 sidelined him, requiring treatment in Las Vegas, Sweden, and Chechnya. He returned in 2022, beating Gilbert Burns by decision at UFC 273. In 2023, he outpointed Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. In October 2024, he submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308.
Bond with Kadyrov
Chimaev’s relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya’s leader since 2007, began in 2020. Kadyrov, sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for alleged human rights abuses, supported Chimaev during his 2021 COVID recovery, urging him not to retire. Kadyrov attended Chimaev’s 2022 wedding and has sparred with him at Akhmat MMA. Chimaev dedicated his UFC 319 win to Kadyrov’s son, Adam, calling him “Dustum” post-fight. Past gifts from Kadyrov include a Mercedes-Benz in 2020, which Chimaev crashed.
Chimaev’s ties to Kadyrov and his Russian citizenship caused U.S. visa issues from 2022 to 2024, limiting him to fights in Abu Dhabi. In January 2025, he gained UAE citizenship, and with help from U.S. President Donald Trump, secured a visa for UFC 319, his first U.S. fight since 2022. This allowed him to compete in Chicago and return to Chechnya with the belt.
