Khamzat Chimaev publicly named his combat sports idols in a recent interview, listing Jon Jones, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and wrestler Buvaisar Saitiev. He stated that no MMA fighter, including himself, has reached their level yet and that all are still very far from them. Chimaev emphasized that something truly special would need to be accomplished to approach their legendary status. The post describes the list as worthy and aspirational.
Khamzat Chimaev opened up about his combat sports heroes in a recent interview, naming Jon Jones, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and legendary Russian wrestler Buvaisar Saitiev as the figures he looks up to most — while making clear that no active MMA fighter, including himself, has come anywhere close to their stature.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," holds a 15-1-0 record and currently sits as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC, with a top-ten pound-for-pound ranking as well. The 30-year-old — who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center — has built his reputation on an aggressive, all-encompassing game. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate, and his grappling output is exceptional, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span.
Jones, the only active fighter on Chimaev's list, carries a 28-1-0 record and is widely considered one of the sport's all-time greats. The 38-year-old stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and has long set the standard for offensive versatility, landing 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while mixing in consistent takedowns and submission threats throughout his career.
Chimaev was emphatic in the interview that reaching the legendary tier occupied by Jones, Tyson, Ali, and Saitiev would require something truly extraordinary — and that every fighter today, himself included, remains very far from that benchmark.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments offer a rare window into the mindset of the UFC's most dominant middleweight contender
- His inclusion of Jones alongside boxing and wrestling legends signals the standard he privately measures himself against
- The self-critical framing, coming from a fighter with a near-perfect record, underscores the hunger that has defined his rapid rise through the division
