This weekend Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to headline his first ever UFC main event. At UFC 279 he’ll be meeting Nate Diaz in a bout that could further the Chechen’s rep as super prospect turned bona fide title contender.
Chimaev’s rise to the top of MMA has been meteoric, thanks to a blistering 2020 where he won three fights in quick succession and in devastating fashion. In his UFC debut he defeated John Phillips with a d’arce choke. He then TKO’d Rhys Mckee. He followed those wins up with a 17-second KO of Gerald Meerschaert.
These wins had UFC President Dana White calling Chimaev a future champion.