Throwback video shows Khamzat Chimaev's first amateur MMA fight in 2017

Resurfaced footage has brought renewed attention to Khamzat Chimaev's origins in the sport, showing the now-elite middleweight contender competing in his very first amateur MMA bout back in September 2017 for the Fight Club Rush promotion in Sweden.

In that debut, a teenage Chimaev submitted his opponent, Khaled Laalam, via rear-naked choke in the second round. It proved to be a sign of things to come. Chimaev went on to compete in three amateur bouts in total before making the jump to professional MMA in 2018.

Chimaev, now 32 and fighting out of the United Arab Emirates, has developed into one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. He holds a professional record of 15-1 and currently sits ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The six-foot-two wrestler and striker trains out of Allstars Training Center and carries a 75-inch reach. His professional numbers reflect his all-around threat, with 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, a striking accuracy rate of 60 percent, and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute.

His debut opponent, Khaled Laalam, has carved out a professional career of his own since that 2017 loss. Laalam currently holds a 7-1 professional record and competes for UAE Warriors.

Why it matters

• The footage offers rare early context on one of the middleweight division's most feared fighters
• Laalam's 7-1 professional record adds an interesting footnote, as Chimaev's first-ever opponent has become a credible professional in his own right
• Fight Club Rush, where both men competed that night, continues to operate and is broadcast on UFC Fight Pass, giving the resurfaced clip added visibility