Video has surfaced of Khamzat Chimaev's first amateur fight, which took place in September 2017 in Sweden under the Fight Club Rush organization. Chimaev finished the bout with a submission 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 first fight was Khaled Laalam, who now holds a 7-1 professional record and competes in UAE Warriors. Fight Club Rush continues to hold events that are broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.
Newly surfaced footage has captured Khamzat Chimaev's very first amateur mixed martial arts bout, a second-round submission finish that took place in September 2017 under the Fight Club Rush banner in Sweden.
Chimaev, now ranked first in the UFC middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, has come a long way from that early outing. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, carries a professional record of 15-1-0. His grappling-heavy style has been a hallmark throughout his career — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes at the professional level, with a striking accuracy of 60 percent and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, the orthodox fighter known as "Borz" went on to win three amateur bouts in total before turning professional the following year.
His opponent in that debut, Khaled Laalam, has since built a legitimate professional career of his own. Laalam currently holds a 7-1 professional record and competes under the UAE Warriors promotion.
Why it matters
- The footage offers a rare look at Chimaev's developmental stage before he became one of the sport's most dominant fighters.
- Fight Club Rush, the Swedish organization that hosted the bout, remains active today and broadcasts its events on UFC Fight Pass, giving the clip added visibility.
- Laalam's 7-1 professional record lends the archival footage extra credibility, showing that Chimaev's first amateur opponent went on to compete at a respectable level.
