Zlatan Ibrahimovic Supports Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC Title Bid

Khamzat Chimaev has risen as a dominant force in the UFC’s middleweight division following his first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. The victory earned him praise from Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who sees Chimaev as the next potential UFC champion. Chimaev defeated Whittaker by submission in the first round with a decisive face crank at 3:34. His victory, which came as part of UFC 308’s co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, sparked discussion about his readiness for a title shot. The bout and the spotlight on Chimaev are putting pressure on the UFC to consider him for a title fight.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “Chimaev is the Next Champion”

Chimaev, who moved to Sweden from Chechnya as a teenager, has become a fan favorite in his adopted homeland. His stellar UFC performances have earned him widespread support, including from one of Sweden’s biggest sports icons, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic, who attended UFC 294 to witness Chimaev’s recent victory over Kamaru Usman, was again supportive following the Whittaker fight. After the win, Chimaev thanked Zlatan publicly, saying,

“Zlatan, thank you, brother. You came to support me. That’s crazy!”

On social media, Ibrahimovic shared a video of Chimaev’s decisive submission move against Whittaker with his 64 million followers, captioning it,

“The Wolf. Khamzat Chimaev. Next champion.”

This endorsement has further fueled excitement around Chimaev’s title aspirations.

Chimaev’s Title Aspirations in the Middleweight Division

With his unbeaten record and his ability to defeat a top contender like Whittaker, Chimaev has made a strong case for a title shot in the middleweight division. Recently, Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya to become the champion, only to lose the title in a razor-thin split decision to Dricus Du Plessis. The UFC is currently scheduling a rematch between Strickland and Du Plessis for UFC 312 in February, but Chimaev’s recent win could accelerate his claim to a title fight.

According to many fans and analysts, Chimaev’s performance against Whittaker showed that he is ready for a higher level of competition. His grappling skills, conditioning, and composure under pressure all signal that he could be a serious threat to the current middleweight title holders.

“I’m here for the belt. I want it now,” Chimaev stated in his post-fight interview, reinforcing his intent to challenge for the championship soon.

Whittaker Recovers and Reflects on the Loss

Robert Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion himself, faced a tough night against Chimaev and suffered injuries during the fight. Rumors circulated that he had sustained a facial injury, but Whittaker clarified on social media that while his jaw remained intact, his front teeth were damaged.

“It’s a tough sport, but it’s what we do,”

Whittaker wrote, congratulating Chimaev on his victory and promising fans that he would return stronger. He plans to take a short break to spend time with his family and recover fully before resuming training.

The excitement around Chimaev’s rise in the UFC and Ibrahimovic’s public support adds an interesting dimension to the UFC’s title picture. With Du Plessis and Strickland preparing for their rematch, Chimaev’s ascent brings new energy to the division, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next developments.

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