Scott Fontana Khamzat Chimaev has one piece of business in the way of his UFC prophecy By Scott Fontana Published May 8, 2026, 9:49 p.m. ET Khamzat Chimaev of Russia reacts after a unanimous-decision victory against Dricus Du Plessis. Zuffa LLC The newest UFC kaiju has emerged from the depths, ravaging all obstacles in his path.
Beware of “Borz,” the monster known better as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. He’s a bogeyman with the potential for combat sports terror rarely seen, save for nigh-unbeatable Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones.
That’s “HOMM-zott.” Don’t call him HAZMAT — appropriate as that name may be for a man who has proved so hazardous to all who’ve stepped into the cage against him.
OK, maybe HAZMAT would resonate better here in the United States than actual nickname Borz (the word for “wolf” in his native Chechnya). He and Sean Strickland have been a caustic mix for weeks leading up to their championship UFC 328 headliner Saturday at Prudential Center.
