Khamzat Chimaev is known for his ruthless dominance inside the cage, but this story about a phone call with his mom after his knockout win over Ikram Aliskerov reveals a different side of the sport. While many would expect a moment of celebration, Chimaev shared that his mother’s reaction caught him off guard.
The duo faced off against each other at the Brave Combat Federation- Pride and Honor in 2019. It was a one-sided affair. Borz used his usual hunting tactics from the get-go and after a few dominant displays of grappling, planted a solid uppercut to Aliskerov’s chin, knocking him out cold.
But what should have been a celebration for the ‘Borz’ quickly became a lesson in empathy.
Chimaev called his mom after the fight as he always does and realized that she was concerned for his opponent and his family instead. The middleweight title contender further revealed that she broke down in tears thinking about Aliskerov’s mother.
“ She watched it and she started crying, I am like why are you crying I won. She yells, ‘he has a mom too, do you know what she is going through? If I saw you like that I would not be able to cope.’”
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Chimaev’s mother’s empathy is a testament to the fact that despite the cruel nature of the game, these are still human beings just trying to make a living the best way they can. They have families, friends, and an army of people who work with them and sacrifice their own time and lives to ensure the fighter makes it to the octagon.
But the dichotomy of the sport is such that once the octagon gates are locked behind them, fighters must lock into a primal state. It’s a job that needs to be done, no matter how brutal it may seem, something Chimaev has become rather good at. It’s also something he looks forward to.
Title fight on US soil next for Chimaev?
‘Borz’ (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) put on an incredible performance at UFC 308 in October, submitting former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker in the first round with a face crank that practically broke his jaw.
Dana White has since been raving about Chimaev’s dominance, noting that his manager predicted he was in the best shape mentally, physically, and emotionally—and the results spoke for themselves.
“He looked incredible,” White shared on ‘The Jim Rome Show’. Now, the UFC boss wants Chimaev’s next big moment—a middleweight title fight—to happen on U.S. soil.
Chimaev hasn’t fought stateside since his UFC 279 victory over Kevin Holland, but his latest performance has middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis paying attention.
Du Plessis has even claimed to prefer a clash with Chimaev over a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland. While nothing is set in stone yet, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for “Borz.”
