American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez has high praise for Khamzat Chimaev, placing him in elite company among MMA fighters.
The UFC middleweight contender has quickly gained attention, with many calling for him to skip ahead of Sean Strickland for a title shot against the current champion, Dricus du Plessis. Interestingly, du Plessis himself has expressed interest in facing Chimaev next, suggesting it would be a more exciting matchup.
During an interview with Red Corner MMA, Mendez compared Chimaev’s skill level to that of UFC legends Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, though he acknowledged the distinct styles among them.
“I think they’re the same level, but they’re different [styles]… They’re not the same fighter. They’re just different, just like Khabib and Islam – they’re the same level but they’re different, and Khamzat’s different.”
Earlier this year, du Plessis claimed the middleweight title by defeating Strickland via split decision, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling showdown with Chimaev.
