Khamzat Chimaev of Chechnya punches Gerald Meerschaert in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Chael Sonnen likens Khamzat Chimaev to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov
Russian-born Swedish UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev has drawn comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov in more than one ways.
Both of them were born in Russia, and the two wrestlers are also undefeated in their professional career. However, it is obviously illogical to compare the two in terms of their achievements yet.
Chimaev’s 9-0-0 record has never seen him face a fighter the likes of which Nurmagomedov faced throughout his career 12-year-long career.
However, Chimaev is making a lot of noise after winning all his UFC bouts this year. On top of that, he has not been shy to call out Israel Adesanya or Kamaru Usman for a title match.
The 26-year-old resembles the great Khabib Nurmagomedov in one tangible way; this is what UFC legend Chael Sonnen has been led to believe.
On the latest episode of his talk show ‘Beyond the Fight‘, Chael Sonnen mentioned a chat with Darren Stewart where the latter praised Chimaev and mentioned stories of him holding his own against stars such as Alexander Gustafsson in the gym.
Sonnen mentioned how these gym stories are often the first step in the making of a superstar. Stewart mentioned to Sonnen how Chimaev is a beast in the gym, and Sonnen compared this to stories of Khabib in the gym.
“It’s sound as though when I’m listening to Stewart talk about Chimaev, I mean, this is how legends are formed.”
Sonnen pointed out how the legend of ‘Khabib Nurmagomedov’ started in the gym. He likened the stories of Chimaev to the stories of Nurmagomedov fighting established guys such as Luke Rockhold and Daniel Cormier in the gym.
“The Khabib Nurmagomedov gym stories of working out with the Luke Rockholds, the Daniel Cormiers… these guys that were established that you had heard of; this is how the legend of ‘Khabib Nurmagomedov’ was made.”
Sonnen used Chimaev and Kevin Holland as examples to put forth his view that 2020 was the ‘year of the contender’.
“I’m very happy that guys like Chimaev are getting their due, guys like Kevin Holland… I really do feel that 2020 was not the year of the champion; it was the year of the contender.”
Chimaev now has the chance to make a real mark when he faces Leon Edwards. The Chechen Wolf will take on the #3 welterweight fighter at UFC Fight Night in January 2021.
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