Whilst undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev and former UFC double champion Conor McGregor often find themselves at odds with one another on social media, the two share a storied history.
In fact, Khamzat Chimaev, who is now 8-0 in the UFC following his recent submission win over Robert Whittaker, actually credits ‘Notorious’ for inspiring him to enter the sport in which he’s now a household name.
Khamzat Chimaev credited Conor McGregor for inspiring him to start MMA
Back in 2020, Khamzat Chimaev was riding a rocket ship to MMA superstardom after finishing two UFC fights in 10 days, before starching veteran Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds a few months later.
Then came the first of several extended periods of inactivity and in the lead-up to his eventual return to action in October 2021 against Li Jingliang, revealed the fascinating origin of his MMA journey.
Speaking to Brett Okamoto via ESPN MMA, Chimaev would explain how he was first inspired to start training mixed martial arts after he watched Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo Jr fighting for the featherweight title during the middle of a night shift.
“Yeah, I was watching his [McGregor’s] fight. I was watching him fight Aldo. I was sitting in night and was working [the night shift]. I was taking rest for 15 minutes and watched his fight.
“I always look at that, like if those guys make so many money like millions and this stuff, why I can’t do it now? I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior and I have something special inside me… I had to find some way and take out this to show to the people.”
Chimaev would have been around 21 years old at the time of McGregor vs Aldo, which took place at UFC 194 in December 2015, and just under two years later, ‘Borz’ made his amateur debut.
Footage from Chimaev’s first amateur MMA fight has recently been re-shared to social media – strangely, that bout is reported to have taken place in an elementary school, with several small children seen sitting cageside under desks.
Khamzat Chimaevs amateur MMA debut in 2017 was held in an elementary school in Sweden and you can even hear children cheering him on.
Now he’s DOMINATING legends of the UFC and on the biggest stage. pic.twitter.com/3rpt5SuFSf
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) October 27, 2024
Conor McGregor ended up losing $500K by betting against Chimaev at UFC 308
Nine years after McGregor secured the featherweight strap with his iconic 13-second KO of Aldo, Chimaev would find himself in the chief supporting act to the 145lb title showdown between Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria this past weekend at UFC 308.
Whilst ‘Borz’ might credit Conor McGregor for inspiring him to start training MMA, the ‘Notorious’ Irishman certainly isn’t happy with the still undefeated phenom; having wagered $500K on both Chimaev and Topuria to lose via KO/TKO.
McGregor stood to make around $17 million from the wager, with his hopes of another big-money payday ‘crushed’ when Chimaev submitted Whittaker inside the first round.
“A mill in a week! Damn!” McGregor posted in a series of tweets this past weekend, citing last week’s losing $500K wager on Renan Ferreira to beat Francis Ngannou.