Footage has emerged of Khamzat Chimaev's first amateur MMA bout, which took place in Sweden in September 2017. Chimaev finished the fight with a submission in the second round. He compiled a 3-0 amateur record before transitioning to professional MMA the following year. The bout took place under the Fight Club Rush promotion, which continues to host events and is broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. Chimaev's opponent in that amateur debut was Khaled Laalaam, who currently holds a 7-1 professional record and competes in UAE Warriors.
Footage of Khamzat Chimaev's very first MMA appearance has resurfaced online, giving fans a rare look at the early development of one of the sport's most dominant fighters. The bout took place in Sweden in September 2017 under the Fight Club Rush promotion, which continues to operate and airs events on UFC Fight Pass. Chimaev finished his opponent with a submission in the second round.
Chimaev, now 32 years old and competing out of the United Arab Emirates with Allstars Training Center, has since become one of the most feared fighters on the planet. The Orthodox-stance middleweight carries a 15-1-0 professional record and sits ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. His professional numbers are striking — he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate, while averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he has the physical tools to back up those statistics. The amateur victory was part of a 3-0 run before he turned professional the following year.
His opponent in that debut, Khaled Laalaam, was no stepping stone to obscurity. Laalaam has since built a 7-1 professional record and currently competes for UAE Warriors, a well-regarded regional promotion.
Why it matters
- The footage provides rare documentary evidence of Chimaev's development before his rapid rise through regional and UFC competition
- Laalaam's 7-1 professional record lends the amateur clip added credibility and historical interest
- Fight Club Rush's continued presence on UFC Fight Pass gives the promotion a platform that brings renewed attention to the unearthed footage
- The clip highlights how quickly Chimaev's submission threat was present, a trait reflected in his current professional averages
