Khamzat Chimaev is currently preparing for what could be the defining moment of his career. He will be competing for the middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 this Saturday in Chicago.
The Chechen warrior recently made headlines not for his finishing ability, but for an unexpected decision at his newly opened gym in his native Chechnya. Despite being one of the most feared mixed martial artists in the world, Chimaev deliberately chose not to include an MMA cage in his youth training facility.
His reasoning reveals a thoughtful perspective that contrasts sharply with his ferocious persona. During Wednesday’s UFC 319 media day, Chimaev articulated his philosophy on youth combat sports development with surprising nuance.
“I don’t think so this MMA can be good for the kids because we punching in the face, we broke each other, you know,” Chimaev explained. “So grappling, kickboxing, boxing, all the sports in one sport. You know this is amazing sport but not for the kids.”
The 30-year-old’s stance stems from both safety concerns and a belief in focused athletic development. Rather than throwing children into the complex world of mixed martial arts, Chimaev advocates for a more measured approach to youth training.
“So I think it should be like at least 15 years to train some different sports,” he continued. “You know, boxing or judo or wrestling, grappling, there a lot of different sports for the young boys.”
This perspective from one of the sport’s rising stars carries particular weight given Chimaev’s own journey through combat sports. His perfect 14-0 professional record, with eight victories inside the UFC, demonstrates mastery across multiple martial arts disciplines. Yet he believes young athletes should build expertise in individual combat sports before attempting to blend them together.
Entering Saturday’s bout as a 2-to-1 favorite over du Plessis, who himself boasts an impressive nine-fight UFC winning streak, Chimaev could soon hold gold in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
His opponent presents a fascinating stylistic matchup, having won seven of his nine UFC victories despite entering as the underdog.
