Legendary Coach grades wrestling skills of Khamzat Chimaev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev
Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach Javier Mendez compares top welterweight Khamzat Chimaev's wrestling with Dagestani fighters.
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Khamzat Chimaev gets compared with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev (via Imago/X)
Khamzat Chimaev silenced many critics with his dominant performance at UFC 308. The ‘Borz’ effortlessly dispatched top middleweight Robert Whittaker, securing a first-round submission. Chimaev’s wrestling has now placed him among the best wrestlers in UFC, drawing comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Khamzat Chimaev is well known for shooting for a takedown in their very first round, regardless of his opponent. His speed and pressure have overwhelmed most of his opponents who struggled against him. In a recent interview, Javier Mendez talked about Chimaev’s skillset. The world champion trainer compared the Chechen fighter with the Dagestani duo.
I think they’re the same level but they’re different…I would say his skillset on the ground, I’d say A+, A+ for Islam, A+ for Khabib, but they’re all different but they’re all A+.
Javier Mendez via Red Corner MMA
Khabib Nurmagomedov is the pioneer when it comes to bringing Russian wrestling to the UFC and dominating everybody. After he retired, his teammate Islam Makhachev did the same and became the lightweight champion. Now, Khamzat Chimaev has the opportunity to dominate the welterweight division with his incredible wrestling abilities.
??Javier Mendez says Khamzat Chimaev's grappling is as elite as Khabib and Islam Makhachev's grappling:
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 3, 2024
"I think they're the same level but they're different…I would say his skillset on the ground, I'd say A+, A+ for Islam, A+ for Khabib, but they're all different but… pic.twitter.com/PlH1Qecdrx
The Chechen warrior recently called out Dricus Du Plessis for a potential title shot, and the South African has already accepted it. Despite Chimaev’s wrestling threat, DDP is ready for a contest of strength. It will be interesting to see whether Chimaev manages to win the UFC belt like Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
When a drunk fan mistook Khamzat Chimaev as Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khamzat Chimaev has always shown respect for Khabib Nurmagomedov, acknowledging his influence and legacy in the UFC. However, some tensions have been between the two, often rooted in cultural and personality differences. For example, past remarks from ‘The Eagle’ regarding Chimaev’s lifestyle and certain choices led to minor disputes.
This sparked discussions in the MMA community. Despite this, both fighters have mutual respect for each other’s skills and accomplishments in the sport. In a recent interview, Chimaev talked about when a fan confused him with Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
When Khabib and Conor fought, I was that day on the work. The guys come out, they were too drunk and I put them out. They said that ‘F*** Khabib.’ I said, ‘I’m not Khabib. Go away.’ They were thinking I was Khabib. They were too drunk. Khabib fought today. What are you talking about?
Khamzat Chimaev via FULL SEND PODCAST
During his early UFC days, Chimaev was called the ‘evil Khabib’ due to his fighting style mixed with aggressive personality. However, after his son’s birth, the fighter has changed his persona to a calmer and humble one. However, the dominance inside the octagon is still the same.
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Ameetosh Dash
(865 Articles Published)