Following Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant victory at UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago’s United Center, Georges St-Pierre’s longtime trainer Firas Zahabi has made a bold statement, calling Chimaev the greatest middleweight fighter of all time. Chimaev, who headlined the event undefeated, controlled the fight against Dricus du Plessis over five rounds in what was expected to be a closely contested matchup between two unbeaten UFC competitors.
Despite some debate among fans and analysts regarding Chimaev’s tactical approach—particularly his choice not to aggressively finish Du Plessis—the consensus from Zahabi is clear, as he praises the Chechen fighter’s rapid rise and dominance in the middleweight division. Chimaev has transitioned from welterweight to 185 pounds with remarkable success, overcoming rivals including Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker en route to securing and defending the middleweight title.
Chimaev’s Rapid Mandate at Middleweight Despite Limited Bouts
Chimaev’s performance at UFC 319 marked only his third fight in the middleweight class, and he is still relatively new to the division after moving up from welterweight, where a missed weight at UFC 279 paused his title chase. His submission victory over Whittaker earned him a title opportunity, which he seized, cementing his position at the top.
Zahabi, speaking on Tristar Gym’s YouTube channel, did not hesitate to elevate Chimaev’s status beyond that of legendary fighters. He declared,
“Khamzat is the greatest middleweight ever,”
adding that he would choose Chimaev over any other middleweight past or present, including Israel Adesanya, Dricus du Plessis, and even Anderson Silva in his prime.
Khamzat is the greatest middleweight ever,
—Firas Zahabi, Trainer
He’s the Khabib (Nurmagomedov) of the middleweight division,
—Firas Zahabi, Trainer
This comparison to Khabib Nurmagomedov highlights Zahabi’s view of Chimaev as a dominant, almost unbeatable force within the division, known for relentless pressure and control.
Current Pound-for-Pound Rankings Reflect Mixed Perceptions
While Zahabi’s praise is unequivocal, Khamzat Chimaev’s position in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings remains below the very top tier. After his win in Chicago, Chimaev climbed to No. 4 in these rankings, surpassing champions like Alexandre Pantoja, Tom Aspinall, and Alexander Volkanovski. However, he remains behind Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvili in the rankings, as well as Islam Makhachev, who is not currently holding a championship belt.
This indicates a gap between Zahabi’s high appraisal and the broader community’s view of Chimaev’s standing among the sport’s elite fighters. Some experts and fans may feel that more fights or additional title defenses are necessary for Chimaev to be universally recognized as the greatest middleweight in UFC history.
An Unfolding Legacy in the UFC Middleweight Division
Khamzat Chimaev’s impressive run and Zahabi’s strong endorsement place him at the center of ongoing discussions about the greatest middleweight fighters in MMA history. His ability to dominate opponents so quickly has stirred both excitement and skepticism, fueling debates as Chimaev continues to build his legacy.
What lies ahead will be critical for Chimaev’s reputation, as further victories against top contenders will test Zahabi’s claims and potentially reshape the history of the middleweight division. The eyes of the UFC world remain fixed on Chimaev’s next moves after his dominant performance in Chicago.