Khamzat Chimaev has identified his idols in combat sports, stating that no MMA fighter has reached their level yet. Chimaev named Jon Jones, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and wrestler Buvaisar Saitiev as his inspirations. He emphasized that all current MMA fighters, including himself, are still very far from matching the achievements of these legends. Chimaev believes fighters need to accomplish something truly special to even approach their level of greatness. His comments reflect respect for the historical icons of combat sports across different disciplines.
Khamzat Chimaev has opened up about the combat sports legends who shaped his outlook, naming Jon Jones, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and wrestler Buvaisar Saitiev as his primary inspirations while stressing that no current MMA fighter — including himself — has come close to matching their legacies.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," holds a 15-1-0 record and is currently ranked first in the UFC middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The 30-year-old fighting out of the UAE and training at Allstars Training Center has built his reputation on relentless pressure, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate while averaging an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. That combination of striking efficiency and dominant grappling has made him one of the most talked-about fighters in the sport.
Among the idols he cited, Jones stands as the only active MMA figure on the list. The heavyweight champion carries a 28-1-0 record at 38 years old and has long been regarded as a benchmark for excellence in the sport, averaging 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy alongside 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Chimaev's inclusion of Tyson and Ali alongside Jones underscores the cross-disciplinary scope of his admiration, while the nod to Saitiev — one of the most decorated freestyle wrestlers in history — speaks directly to Chimaev's own grappling identity.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments frame his own ambitions by setting an exceptionally high standard for greatness in combat sports
- Placing Jones among all-time icons across boxing and wrestling highlights the esteem in which the heavyweight champion is held by peers
- For the top-ranked middleweight contender, publicly acknowledging the distance still to travel signals a focused, long-term outlook on his career
