Khamzat Chimaev is on fire right now, calling out every big name and making history with his dominant performance in the UFC. But 13 months ago, he came very close to calling it a day and retiring from the sport.
Chimaev was scheduled to face Leon Edwards on Dec. 2021, but the bout got pushed back to January and then March after both fighters contracted COVID-19.
However, Chimaev decided to resume training less than a month after testing positive for the virus, which led to multiple health complications. In a recent interview, The Chechen explained the issues he had to deal with during that period, “Everyone was sick, some people died. It was hard time for everyone, for all of us.”
Then, his brothers offered him to go live with them so that they can take proper care. The ‘Borz’ then obliged and said, “If you make me healthy, I will go back and smash everyone.”
A member of Chimaev’s team even claimed the fighter thought he was going to die due to the virus. It was so bad that couldn’t even speak or breathe and had severe muscle pain.
Chimaev flew to his home country Chechnya to stay close to his family and friends and conclude his treatment. By the time he returned to Sweden he was already recovered, mentally and physically.
‘Borz’ finally re-entered the octagon in October 2021, dismantling Jingliang Li to set up a fight with “Durinho” at UFC 273.
The incredible comeback of Khamzat Chimaev after Covid
After an absence of over a year, Khamzat Chimaev returned to the Octagon at UFC 267 on Oct. 30, to score a first-round submission of Li Jingliang dominantly.
But then he spent 13 months on the sideline, unsure of his future when he was battling COVID-19, along with other serious health issues. However, after a grueling battle with COVID-19, Chimaev was back in the Octagon to do what he does best.
Chimaev took on the most accomplished Chinese male MMA fighter in UFC, Li Jingliang, who was coming off a huge knockout victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. And he was a huge threat to the hype train of ‘Borz’, or everyone thought so. However, Li Jingliang was no match for the Swede as he was able to land only one strike on Chimaev before getting taken down by Chimaev.
Khamzat displayed his elite level of wrestling and ended the fight in the first round with a rear-naked choke.
The Chechen sent the crowd in Abu Dhabi on their feet after his phenomenal comeback and even called out the former UFC heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar while celebrating his victory.
Upon asking about his plans for his future, Chimaev delivered an iconic statement: “Everybody. Kill everybody. I am the Champion.”
It remains to be seen this weekend if Burns can crack the aura of invincibility around Khamzat and derail the hype train or become another feather to the crown of the ‘Borz’.