Khamzat Chimaev recently opened up about the pressures of staying undefeated in the UFC. He believes some fighters focus too much on their professional records, which can become distracting.
Chiamev, 31, captured the middleweight championship at UFC 319 last Saturday. He earned a dominant unanimous decision win over Dricus du Plessis to remain undefeated. The win marked his 9th win inside the octagon and improved his professional record to 16-0.
Undefeated UFC fighters have always drawn special attention. Jon Jones, whose only loss being a disqualification, and Khabib Nurmagoemdov, who retired undefeated, stand out. Their records have become major promotional tools, driving interest in their respective UFC fights.
Despite growing expectations, Chimaev refuses to dwell on his unblemished record. Speaking with JAXXON PODCAST, ‘Borz’ said wins and losses don’t define him. He believes doing his best matters more than protecting a perfect record.
Chimaev acknowledged that losing is always a possibility, but it doesn’t shake the confidence he has in himself.
“Other fighters think about [their undefeated records]. I had some friends, they were undefeated, now they lost. Some of them were thinking, ‘I had a zero, I have to keep it.’ I don’t care about it,” Chimaev said. “The good thing is, you stay there and do your best and [that’s] the best thing you can do. If you think about the loss too much, you’re gonna lose. I like to think about only winning, I never think about [losing]. If it happens, it’s God’s will.”
Khamzat Chimaev Explains What Sets Him Apart From Other UFC Fighters
Chimaev’s mindset goes beyond his record. His fearless approach and willingness to fight anyone regardless of weight class, has helped fast-track his rise. He has fought in and won fights at welterweight and middleweight, which fans can admire.
On the JAXXON PODCAST, Chimaev explained his love for fighting pushes him forward. The UFC middleweight champion stays true to his authentic self and is focused and finds joy in staying active.
“I wanna fight more than anyone, so that’s the [difference] between some guys,” Chimaev said. “Someone is crying, someone is scared, and they have different emotions. But, for me, the normal thing all my life is that I train hard and fight hard. For me, I’m happy to be there and fight.”
Chimaev Grateful for Praise From MMA Legend
Chimaev’s high-level wrestling, which he has been a factor in him remaining undefeated, has gained praise from the MMA world. Among them is former UFC star Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, who co-hosts JAXXON PODCAST.
During the interview, Jackson’s co-host Bear Degidio shared high praise from the MMA legend. He said Chiamev’s raw strength and wrestling makes it incredibly hard for opponents to take him down.
Chimaev responded with gratitude and humility. He values the recognition and praise from legends like Jackson, who helped built the sport to what it is today.
“All of us [fighters] felt like [we’re] stronger than anyone, every since I was a kid,” Chimaev said. “It’s good to hear stuff from the legends and other guys who has been starting with MMA. [Jackson] is one of the legends in the sport. Good to hear.”
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