UFC 279 was marketed as more or less an assassination attempt on the legacy on Nate Diaz. After denying Diaz the opportunity to clash with Poirier, Luque, Ferguson or any other similar veteran the UFC had matched him with their latest rising star – wrestler Khamzat Chimaev.
Diaz would end up being very lucky, with Chimaev’s body betraying him during the weight cut and making sure that the event unravels and recomposes in the best possible fashion for Diaz.
Chimaev also made it through the whole thing more notorious and unscathed. In the 6 bouts in the UFC cage he took a single strike in 5 of them with the Gilbert Burns being the outlier (120+ strikes landed).
A fan who previously had a comical take on Adesanya’s approach to appearing in the cage took on Chimaev’s latest performance for an authentic look.
For those who don’t recall – Chimaev manhandled Kevin Holland in the co-main event of UFC 279. The whole thing was over before it started with Chimaev going from the takedown from the opening seconds of round 1. He would secure a takedown, Holland would spaz out – but land on his knees in a sort of turtle position. At this point Chimaev had a 3/4 Nelson grip which he successfully changed to a D’arce choke and made Holland tap out.
Khamzat Chimaev taps out Kevin Holland in the first round.#UFC279 pic.twitter.com/9kWjh1Bn5k
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) September 11, 2022