Footage has emerged of Khamzat Chimaev's first amateur MMA bout, which took place in September 2017 in Sweden under the Fight Club Rush promotion. Chimaev won the fight via rear-naked choke in the second round. He went on to win three amateur fights total before transitioning to professional MMA the following year. His opponent in that debut fight was Khaled Laalam, who is now 7-1 as a professional and currently competing in UAE Warriors. Fight Club Rush, the organization where Chimaev made his amateur debut, continues to operate and their events are still broadcast on Fight Pass.
Footage of Khamzat Chimaev's first-ever MMA bout has resurfaced online, offering a rare glimpse at the early days of one of the sport's most dominant fighters. The clip shows Chimaev competing in a September 2017 amateur contest in Sweden under the Fight Club Rush banner, where he defeated Khaled Laalam by rear-naked choke in the second round.
Chimaev, now 32, has come a long way since that debut. Currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list, the UAE-based fighter carries a professional record of 15-1-0 and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he has built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the world, averaging 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute at a remarkable 60 percent striking accuracy, while also threatening opponents on the ground with 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. The amateur win over Laalam was the first of three victories at that level before Chimaev transitioned to professional competition in 2018.
His debut opponent has since carved out a respectable career of his own. Khaled Laalam now holds a professional record of 7-1-0 and is currently active in UAE Warriors.
Why it matters
- The footage provides rare historical context for one of MMA's fastest rises from amateur to elite contender
- Fight Club Rush, where Chimaev got his start, remains active and broadcasts events on Fight Pass
- Laalam's 7-1 professional record adds credibility to the quality of competition Chimaev faced even in his earliest bouts
- The clip renews attention on Chimaev's development ahead of his continued run at the top of the middleweight division
