Khamzat Chimaev Laughs Off BJJ Superstar Gordon Ryan’s Tactical Breakdown of Champion’s Wrestling Threat

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev replies to Jiu Jitsu legend Gordon Ryan's analysis to counter his wrestling.

Khamzat Chimaev Laughs Off BJJ Superstar Gordon Ryan’s Tactical Breakdown of Champion’s Wrestling Threat

Khamzat Chimaev replies to Gordon Ryan (via MMA Mania, Bloody Elbow)

In Short
  • Khamzat Chimaev dismissed Gordon Ryan's tactical breakdown of his wrestling style as "big bulls**t."
  • Chimaev showcased his grappling dominance in a unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319.
  • Dricus du Plessis expressed hope for a rematch with Chimaev, acknowledging the need to counter his wrestling-heavy approach.

Khamzat Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, stands as one of the most dominant figures in MMA grappling and wrestling today. The undefeated Chechen superstar has built his career on a suffocating top game and relentless takedowns that overwhelm opponents. However, recent comments from jiu-jitsu legend Gordon Ryan about how to beat that style did not impress the Chechen superstar.

While Chimaev has consistently showcased his grappling and wrestling dominance throughout his UFC career, it was most evident in his championship victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. He secured one of the most dominant unanimous decision wins in UFC history, earning 50-44 scorecards on all three judges’ cards. That commanding display immediately raised questions about who could overcome his skill set.

Many contenders have proposed methods to counter the middleweight champion’s wrestling, including Gordon Ryan, a decorated grappler. He outlined that disrupting the system would require explosive stand-ups, rolling transitions, and leg attacks to break positional control. Chimaev, however, dismissed the breakdown with two humorous words, reinforcing confidence in his dominant approach.

Big bulls**t.

Khamzat Chimaev via Instagram

Ryan is regarded as one of the most accomplished no-gi grapplers of his era, with multiple ADCC world titles and elite submission victories worldwide. He has consistently competed against and defeated world-class opponents across major international grappling platforms. His sustained dominance and technical expertise in modern jiu-jitsu give credibility to his assessment of Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy approach.

Several opponents in the past believed they could counter Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy approach, trusting their defensive grappling skills under sustained pressure. Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was among them. Instead, ‘Borz’ secured a first-round neck crank submission at UFC 308 that resulted in Whittaker losing three of his bottom teeth, emphatically underscoring his dominance.

Now firmly established atop the UFC middleweight division, Khamzat Chimaev faces contenders such as Nassourdine Imavov, who brings strong Dagestani wrestling roots. That depth keeps stylistic matchups central to the division’s trajectory. In this context, the technical assessment from Gordon Ryan carries analytical weight as the Chechen superstar’s dominance continues to be tested at the highest level.

Dricus Du Plessis has high hopes for a Khamzat Chimaev rematch

Dricus Du Plessis was a formidable middleweight champion before facing Khamzat Chimaev as Sean Strickland and submitting former champion Israel Adesanya during his reign. Heading into the bout, many believed DDP could challenge the Chechen fighter effectively. However, he could not withstand Chimaev’s suffocating wrestling and grappling pressure, enduring nearly 22 minutes of top control.

Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319
Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 (via X)

After the UFC 319 loss to Chimaev, Du Plessis put out a message addressing his fans and revealed that he will take some time off to recover and get back stronger. However, the South African middleweight also emphasized the need to find a ‘kryptonite’ for the grappling and wrestle heavy style of Caucasus fighters that cost him his belt. These reflections naturally led into his recent comments about a potential rematch Chimaev.

Fighting Khamzat again is what I’m after. Am I expecting any surprises? No. There’s not going to be any surprises. That is the way he’s going to fight, and if he tries anything different, it will be a terrible night, and we all know that. But he did what he had to do to win that belt. We can’t hate him for that. It’s the rules of the game and he did. So saying it’s not fair, it is fair. He did what he had to do. Not how I would win my belt or would like to, but that’s what he did. Now it’s my responsibility to go fix that to stop him from doing it again, and get him to fight my fight.

Dricus Du Plessis via MMA Junkie

Khamzat Chimaev, however, will remain sidelined until after Ramadan ends in late March 2026, delaying any immediate rematch plans. Meanwhile, other contenders such as Nassourdine Imavov are already positioning themselves for a potential title shot. This means DDP may need to earn his way back into contention, proving himself against the top-ranked challengers before another title shot becomes viable.

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