Khamzat Chimaev’s career graph in the UFC is truly one of a kind. Ever since his debut in the promotion, Chimaev has displayed nothing but impressive performances, one after the other. From submission finishes to knockouts, the Chechen-born fighter has showcased it all. However, even after such phenomenal success, he has been inactive for more than a year now.

At UFC 279 last year, Chimaev was going to face one of the most popular MMA faces ever, Nate Diaz. However, due to a significant weight miss, the bout was scrapped. Instead, ‘Borz’ faced Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout and won the fight in the very first round. Soon afterward, news of Chimaev’s move to the middleweight division surfaced. Now, more than a year later, the 29-year-old is finally making his return to 185 lbs. But it won’t be easy for him to find success in this weight category.

No weight advantage for Khamzat Chimaev

Weight cutting is one of the most controversial aspects of MMA. To fight lighter opponents, fighters choose to dehydrate themselves through aggressive weight-cut techniques. Moreover, some fighters heavily rely on this technique, while others fight at their natural weight. Chimaev was the one to cut numerous pounds to fit into the welterweight division.

Due to this, the undefeated MMA fighter had a built-in advantage going into all his welterweight fights. According to sources, Chimaev’s walk-around weight during his time as a welterweight was around 195 lbs. Cutting 25 lbs till the day of weigh-ins and gaining it all back soon afterward helped ‘Borz’ substantially.

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However, he might not have the same advantage in the middleweight division. Since the weight limit for this division is 185 lbs, most fighters will have a walk-around weight of around 195 lbs. Therefore, the undefeated UFC fighter will have a tougher time in the Octagon against fighters of his own weight.

Good grapplers and wrestlers in the UFC’s middleweight division

Undoubtedly, wrestling is Chimaev’s most lethal arsenal in the Octagon. However, the UFC’s middleweight division has many impressive grapplers and wrestlers who have the potential to neutralize the UFC star’s wrestling. The name on top of this list is Bo Nickal. Coming out of Dana White’s Contender Series, Nickal is one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC.

Moreover, he has exceptional wrestling skills, and fans want to see him battle ‘Borz’. The two have had several back-and-forths, and fans believe that Nickal might be the one to stop Chimaev. Further, fighters like Robert Whittaker and Martin Vettori are accomplished grapplers. Other MMA middleweights like Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum have also showcased impressive grappling skills. With many experienced grapplers and wrestlers in the division, Khamzat Chimaev might find it hard to rise in the middleweight rankings.

Khamzat Chimaev’s weakness exposed against Gilbert Burns?

At UFC 273, Khamzat Chimaev faced his biggest challenge yet, Gilbert Burns. Ever since the bout was announced, many fans and critics were interested to see how ‘Borz’ performed against an elite opponent, as Burns was his first high-profile fight. Although the undefeated MMA star won the fight, he could not establish his dominance in the Octagon.

It was a phenomenal fight to watch, as both fighters were landing powerful shots all throughout the bout. Further, both fighters kept the fight away from wrestling and grappling. In the end, Chimaev was declared the winner via a unanimous decision. However, his weakness might have been exposed there.

Gilbert Burns, who is better known for his grappling skills, was able to deliver prominent damage on numerous occasions. Moreover, he almost knocked down his opponent at one point. After this fight, Chimaev’s weakness in striking might have been exposed. In the middleweight division, experienced strikers like Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland can take advantage of this.

Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis – Three hurdles in Khamzat Chimaev’s way

If Khamzat Chimaev wants to assert his dominance in the middleweight division, he will have to prove his worth against top-level contenders like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Dricus Du Plessis. Whittaker has been in the top 5 middleweight rankings for years. Du Plessis, on the other hand, is in contention for a middleweight title shot.

Finally, Israel Adesanya, the former champ, will also be looking to regain UFC gold. In this scenario, Chimaev will probably have to face one, two, or all of them at some point in his career. Further, these three fighters will present tougher competition than ‘Borz’ has faced till now.

Will he be able to overcome all obstacles and achieve unparalleled success in UFC’s middleweight division? No one knows. What are your opinions about the 12-0 record holder’s future in the UFC’s 185 lbs weight division? Let us know in the comments below.

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