Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, two prominent figures in the world of MMA, were rumored to have a strained relationship in the past. However, a recent social media post by Chimaev seems to suggest that the two fighters have reconciled and are now on good terms.
The post came after Islam Makhachev’s impressive victory over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. Chimaev took to social media to express his support for both Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, stating that they would always stand united when it comes to protecting their shared values.
The rivalry between Chimaev and Nurmagomedov’s cousin Abubakar was resolved with the intervention of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who ensured that any animosity between the two fighters was put to rest. Despite this, Chimaev seems to be eyeing a potential matchup with Makhachev in the future, believing that a win over the two-division champion would solidify his position as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
Chimaev recently claimed his first UFC title by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, solidifying his status as one of the top fighters in the promotion. On the other hand, Makhachev’s victory at UFC 322 made him the 11th two-division champion in UFC history and tied Anderson Silva’s record for the longest win streak in the promotion.
In a surprising turn of events, Makhachev’s former opponent Arman Tsarukyan shared his thoughts on a potential matchup between Makhachev and Chimaev. Tsarukyan, who was dominated by Chimaev in a grappling session, believes that Chimaev’s unique fighting style and physical strength would give him the edge over Makhachev in a potential fight. Tsarukyan pointed out that Makhachev’s smaller size and weight could work against him in a matchup against the larger Chimaev.
As the MMA world eagerly anticipates a potential showdown between Chimaev and Makhachev, fans can only speculate on what the future holds for these two rising stars in the UFC. With both fighters at the top of their game, a matchup between Chimaev and Makhachev could be a defining moment in the history of the sport.
