If there was any doubt before, Khamzat Chimaev just proved he’s the real deal.
The undefeated Russian has been the talk of the town ever since he picked up back-to-back wins in the UFC in just 10 days in July but his latest victory just silenced any doubters who still didn’t believe the hype.
Chimaev needed just 17 seconds and a single right hand to knockout Gerald Meerschaert in a stunning performance at UFC Vegas 11.
“$50 g’s baby,” Chimaev said when calling for a performance bonus following the win. “I hope Dana White’s gonna give me $50 g’s.”
As soon as the fight started, Chimaev was stalking Meerschaert around the octagon as it appeared he was potentially setting up a takedown to showcase his devastating ground game.
Instead, Chimaev pushed the fight back towards the cage before unleashing a right hand that landed flush and Meerschaert just crumbled down to the mat. The referee immediately ran into to rescue Meerschaert but Chimaev already knew the fight was finished.
When asked after the fight what he was thinking heading into the cage with Meerschaert on Saturday night, Chimaev simply said “kill this guy.”
With a 3-0 record in the UFC inside two months, Chimaev will likely continue a rapid rise up the ranks as he awaits his next fight, which is expected to be a showdown with former welterweight title contender Demian Maia later this year.