With its chairing victory to won middleweight gold on UFC 319, there is a considerable thing to make to see Khamzat Chimaev at the top of the pound-for-pound pile of the promotion.
Recording of career -profit number fifteen In the weekend, the unbeaten Megastar Khamzat Chimaev finally broke through in the first title fight of his Roughod -Run in the Octagon.
And the first loss of defending Kingpin Drus Du Plessis' rated stint in the promotion, Chimaev rode a dominant from-bijna record-breaking victory over the South African to conquer the championship.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Probably Chimaev will probably move quite well in the pound-for-pound ranks after the back of his victory, will probably not get the recognition in that list that I believe he makes a strong thing to justify.
Khamzat Chimaev's claim on pound-for-pound number one status
In the simplest ways, pound-for-pound rankings are present in combat sports to determine who is probably the best hunter compared to their counterparts-and as they may have weighed the classes.
Ilia Topuria is currently entitled to the number one place in the ranking of the UFC, which rival Islam Makahchev earlier this summer with his emphatic knockout from Charles Oliveira.
And his second octagonal belt with the victory, won the Spanish Force Topuria lightweight gold, after he stopped the WHOs that had stopped in featherweight to land the belt.
But if we take the definition of the pound-for-pound ranking system at nominal value, then Chimaev will certainly have such a large claim in first place.
In particular, the Chechense has traveled up and down about the division during his young stay of five years in the UFC, who came every time when victory came.
Khamzat Chimaev's Dominance by two divisions
Chimaev initially debuted in the middleweight and has struggled not to struggle with a cut to a good weight in the past, which limited his activity in the division.
And in the end forced to compete exclusively in the middleweight, Chimaev really did not look out at 170 pounds. In fact in fact.
Chimaev A back and forth Barnburner against Gilbert Burns in itself in a striking victory at Welterweight, also made light work by Li Jingliang in the same division.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Of course he fought against the catch weight in his Quickfire congregation victory over Kevin Holland, but Chimaev has really cemented himself in the middleweight to add to his praise in welterweight.
Although his narrow decision victory over former pound-for-pound best Kamaru Usman, Chimaev looks ready in the middleweight with his scrap rink on another former champion in the form of Robert Whittaker.
And it is this recent series of victories up and down division that gives Chimaev a decent thing to surpass that elusive brand in the UFC.
How does Khamzat Chimaev make with middleweight in the future?
Because contenders probably come fat and fast for Chimaev in the weight class, an important collision in his weight class is on the deck next month.
To start up, the winner of the aforementioned link between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho will probably come forward as the next challenger of the middleweight Kroon – now held by the Chechen star.
But if he is overlooked for the pound-for-pound top in the new ranking update, Chimaev will give himself big favors with a victory over Imavov or Borralho. Especially if he can hand in a similar one -sided shutout against them, related to his victory over Du Plessis.
Khamzat Chimaev put down a direct path to pound-for-Pond Baars
More than happy to compete in both middleweight and good weight, as we have seen in the past, Chimaev himself imposed his own idea on how he can no doubt guarantee his status as the best hunter in the UFC.
As far as he is concerned, as a former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev prevails in his disputed fight with Jack della Maddalena later this year, he would ideally return to 170 pounds to face the Russian.
If he also prevailed, Chimaev and many others would probably see the UFC in a position to place it at the peak of the pound-for-pound list.
Khamzat Chimaev says that beating Islam Makhachev if they both win their next fights, his “fastest way would be to pound-for-pound no. 1.” ☝️ pic.twitter.com/ek6lttzgv6
– MMA Junkie (@mmajunkie) August 7, 2025
View tweet
“We will see who will be the champion there [at welterweight]”Chimaev recently told MMA Junkie.
'Don't know. It's the fastest way [fighting Islam Makhachev] To get the pound-for-pound number 1. ”
Khamzat Chimaev -Selang at the moment
I can agree with those who suggest that Chimaev should probably already use the current PaceSetter Topuria. I can really.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
His five-fighting place of recent also has a number of really large Octagon stars overthrow him, also on a rather sloping fashion.
Whether the UFC or its ranking panel agrees is another story, but there is a world where Chimaev makes the airtight business for the first place. And it is conceivable after his turning point against Du Plessis.