From Chaos to Championship: The Wild tale of Khamzat Chimaev’s Rise and His UFC Title Shot
(Image: A striking action shot of Khamzat Chimaev in the Octagon, looking determined. Alt text: Khamzat Chimaev prepares for his UFC Middleweight Title fight at UFC 319.)
LAS VEGAS – The road to UFC gold is rarely smooth, but for Khamzat Chimaev, it’s been paved with backstage brawls, dramatic weigh-in misses, and a last-minute scramble that saved a legend’s farewell. Now, after years of dominance, “Borz” is finally set to compete for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 319 in Chicago, facing Dricus du Plessis in a highly anticipated showdown.
But to understand the magnitude of this moment, we need to rewind to a night of utter chaos at UFC 279 in 2022.
the Night Everything Changed
Nate Diaz’s final UFC fight was supposed to be a respectful send-off for a beloved veteran. Instead, it became a whirlwind of unforeseen circumstances. The drama began before the event even started, with a backstage altercation between Chimaev and Kevin Holland escalating into a full-blown melee.
(Video embed: YouTube video of the UFC 279 backstage brawl. Caption: Footage of the chaotic brawl between Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland at UFC 279.)
“It was crazy,” recalls one source close to the event. “One minute we were preparing for the press conference, the next there was just… pandemonium.”
The situation spiraled further when Chimaev shockingly missed weight by a staggering 7.5 pounds for his scheduled fight against Diaz. The card was on the brink of collapse.
Holland Steps Up, Diaz Gets a Break
In a stunning turn of events, Kevin Holland selflessly agreed to step in and face the dangerous Chimaev on short notice, effectively taking one for the team and sparing Diaz from a perhaps brutal final fight.(Image: Khamzat Chimaev submitting Kevin Holland at UFC 279. Alt text: Khamzat Chimaev secures a submission victory over Kevin holland at UFC 279.)
“I just wanted to help,” Holland explained later. “Nate deserved a
