Khamzat Chimaev is back and the UFC welterweight division better take notice. Quickly.
The unbeaten destroyer from Russia who arrived on the scene as 2020’s breakout future star with three victories over a two-month stretch to kickstart his UFC career, returned from a one-year layoff due to illness to destroy rugged contender Li Jingliang on Saturday at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.
Chimaev (10-0) went literally untouched as he took Jingliang (18-7) down to open the fight and proceeded to smash him from behind with big punches before putting his Chinese foe to sleep via rear-naked choke at 3:16 of Round 1. But it was the swagger he showed in doing so that got just as much attention as his in-cage demolition.
After ducking a punch to shoot for a takedown, Chimaev picked Jingliang up and walked him over to the cage where he yelled at UFC president Dana White, who was seated cageside, before slamming his opponent to the ground.
“I could’ve taken him down early but I wanted to talk to Dana White,” Chimaev said. “He was reaching for his phone or something but brother, don’t miss my fight!
“I said to Dana, ‘I am the king here and I will stay here for a long time. I will kill everybody. Do you believe me now? I told you I would kill everybody.’ He is asleep now.”
Chimaev’s return came after a difficult stretch for the 27-year-old prospect, who now calls Sweden his home. Chimaev was forced to fight through multiple bouts with COVID-19 and was hospitalized. He went as far as publicly considering retirement due to the effect the illness had on his lungs.
Now, the conversation has quickly swung to not if but when Chimaev, who also fights at middleweight, can cut the line and close in on a UFC title shot.
Asked who he wants to fight next during his post-fight interview, Chimaev was less than picky.
“Everybody! Everybody! I am coming for everybody!” Chimaev screamed. “I kill everybody! I am the champ!”
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