UFC middleweight star Khamzat Chimaev made a significant impact at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi last week, creating a seismic shift in the middleweight division that can still be felt days after the fight. ‘Borz’ not only stopped former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round but did so in a jaw-dropping manner. Quite literally!

With his 14th win in his MMA career, Khamzat Chimaev has extended his undefeated record and caused a substantial upheaval in the middleweight rankings, jumping to the 3rd spot and pushing ‘The Reaper’ down to 4th. Chimaev is now eyeing a future as the division’s king, yet he is currently just happy to silence his critics who have targeted him for his pullout habits due to illness.

Before moving on to his next fight, ‘Borz’ has been enjoying the attention he’s received following his 14th victory. He showcased this in an interview with CBS Sports’ Shaquille Mahjouri on his YouTube channel. When the host pressed Khamzat Chimaev with a humorous question about his nickname ‘Broz,’ which means “wolf” in Swedish, and asked what could be an animal-based nickname for his opponent Robert Whittaker, Chimaev humorously compared ‘The Reaper to a kangaroo, saying, “I don’t know… kangaroo? He is jumping like it; he has good footwork.”

This comparison seemed fitting, as Whittaker is from Australia, where the kangaroo is a national symbol, making  Khamzat Chimaev’s comment both amusing and intriguing for fans. ‘Borz’ , now displaying a more relaxed and gentlemanly demeanor, has shown a lighthearted side, possibly taking cues from other fighters—a change that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his former opponent, Gilbert Burns, who had some remarks about Chenchen’s prospect-evolving personality.

Is Khamzat Chimaev a Changed Man?

This year has not been particularly kind to Khamzat Chimaev. First, his highly anticipated fight against Robert Whittaker was delayed. Then, he found himself entangled in cryptocurrency controversies. To make matters worse, ‘Borz’ faced a personal nightmare as his son developed a medical condition requiring multiple surgeries—a challenge no father wants to endure.

These events seem to have changed Chenchen’s prospects permanently, with him now focused on setting a good example and building a solid reputation for his family. However, not everyone is convinced by Khamzat Chimaev’s newfound outlook. His former opponent, Gilbert Burns, who pushed him to the third round in a grueling battle, recently raised eyebrows over ‘Borz’ allegedly going easy on Robert Whittaker.

Speaking on the ‘Show Me the Money’ podcast, Burns remarked, “I just think he tried to be ‘that guy,’ and it didn’t work. And I do think a lot of people were doubting him after my fight and the fight with Kamaru Usman. People were destroying him online, saying, ‘He’s not this, he’s not that.’ He was kind of like, you know what? I’ll stay relaxed in this fight. And I think he’s changed so much.”

What are your thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev’s new nickname for Robert Whittaker? Do you believe ‘The Reaper’ should embrace his Australian heritage in his nickname, which could attract more Australian fans to MMA? Drop your opinion below.