Chimaev vs Shavkat Who will win?

Chimaev vs Shavkat Rakhmonov is the like crowing the future star of MMA. They share similar backgrounds in wrestling and aggressive fighting styles, promising an explosive matchup. Who would win if the world-class wrestlers met inside the Ocatagon? Who has better striking and wrestling skills? Who has better records? Let’s find out in this post.

Striking comparison

Chimaev’s Striking:

Khamzat Chimaev shares similarities with Shavkat in initiating attacks early in the rounds. In a fight against Gerald, he attempted a head kick right from the start. Known for relentless forward pressure, Chimaev excels in pushing opponents to the fence, demonstrating power and solid striking IQ.

Chimaev’s offensive striking includes a good jab and a potent right cross. However, he tends to brawl and rely on power punches, which can leave him susceptible to counters. Chimaev’s defensive gaps include a lack of hand movement and an exposed chin during certain strikes. Despite these weaknesses, he displays aggression and effective pressure.

Key Points for Chimaev:

– Relentless forward pressure.

– Powerful offensive striking.

– Defensive vulnerabilities in hand movement and chin exposure.

Striking Stats for Chimaev:

– 59% striking accuracy.

– 5 strikes landed per minute.

– 3 strikes absorbed per minute.

– 42% significant strike defense.

Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Striking

In his recent bout against Wonderboy, Shavkat showcased a unique blend of striking and grappling skills.

Despite Wonderboy’s karate expertise, Shavkat faced challenges in landing punches due to Wonderboy’s swift evasions. Much of the first round involved clinching against the fence, where Shavkat’s hard work paid off with a successful takedown.

On the ground, Shavkat’s grappling prowess was evident. He controlled Wonderboy, attempted a choke, and remained ready for subsequent moves.

Shavkat’s striking style involves constant forward movement, willingness to take a punch to land one, and clinch engagements. His UFC fight affirmed his strength and skill in both striking and grappling.

Key Points for Shavkat:

– Strong ground grappling skills.

– Unique forward-moving striking style.

– Comfortable in mid and short-range positions.

Striking Stats for Shavkat:

– 61% striking accuracy.

– 4 strikes landed per minute.

– 2 strikes absorbed per minute.

– 54% significant strike defense.

Conclusion

Both Shavkat Rakhmonov and Chimaev bring unique strengths to their striking styles. Shavkat’s focus on grappling and forward-moving strikes differs from Chimaev’s approach, which involves constant pressure and powerful offensive moves.

Chimaev’s fight against Gilbert Burns in 2022 was considered the second-best MMA fight of the year, providing an exciting experience. Similarly, Rakhmonov’s bout against Geoff Neil in 2023 was recognized as the second-best MMA fight of that year.

While both Shavkat and Chimaev have defensive concerns, Shavkat’s statistics are better. However, Chimaev’s formidable power has the potential to impact the outcome of the match significantly.

Wrestling and Grappling Comparison

Shavkat Rakhmonov Wrestling and Grappling

Shavkat is a Master of Sport in Combat Sambo, which has given him a strong foundation in wrestling and ground fighting. But he hasn’t actually faced many top-level wrestlers in his UFC career so far.

Top-Level Wrestlers:

• Neil Magny: Magny has solid wrestling, but isn’t considered an elite grappler. Rakhmonov outgrappled him convincingly in their fight.
• Alex Oliveira: Oliveira has decent takedowns but no noteworthy ground control or submission threat. Rakhmonov easily took him down and controlled him on the ground.

Non-Top-Level Wrestlers:

• Carlston Harris: Primarily a striker with limited wrestling. Rakhmonov submitted him with ease.
• Michel Pereira: While Pereira has good takedowns, his focus is more on scrambling and transitions than pure dominant wrestling. Rakhmonov mostly kept the fight standing against him.
• Jingliang Li: While Li has wrestling in his arsenal, it’s not his primary strength. Rakhmonov controlled the clinch but didn’t take him down much.

Shavkat Rakhmonov capitalizes on the slightest openings, catching opponents out of position with lightning-quick double legs, single legs, and body locks.

So to test his wrestling and grappling techniques he needs tougher competition like Colby Covington, or Khamzat Chimaev.

He has attempted 17 takedowns in UFC and landed 2 takedowns.

On average  he attempts 1.49 take down per 15 minutes. But take down accuracy is just 29% and take down  defense is 100%.

Shavkat in a fight against Neil Magney  landed most of his strikes on ground position, he landed 73% of his strikes and later finished him with Gullitone Choke on ground which shows that he has tendency to control the top level wrestlers .

Shavkat has landed 38% of his UFC strikes in ground position and has impressive 5 victory by submission aginst UFC fighters.

This 5 victories states that has has an amazing grappling skills, but the question is how he is against elite wrestlers and grapplers like Colby Covington and Gilburt burns.Overall He is good but needs to be tested.

Chimaev Wrestling and Grappling

Chimaev unlike Shavkat has fought against the legend Kamaru Usman and elite grappler like Gilbert Burns.

Chimaev in a bout against Kamaru Usman has successfully landed 4 take downs which is very impressive against top level wrestler like kamaru usman.

Also He has a control time of 7:16 (mm:ss), this shows how good is chimaev wrestling.

Takedown Defense:

Chimaev’s takedown defense is challenging to assess due to limited attempts against him. Examining his amateur fights provides glimpses of his earlier prowess. In one instance against Khaled Laallam, a desperate double-leg attempt momentarily succeeded, but Chimaev swiftly recovered, showcasing resilience. Another attempt was countered with a D’Arce choke, indicating his evolving skill even in his amateur debut.

Against Gilbert Burns, a high-level grappler, takedown attempts were partially successful, highlighting Chimaev’s ability to recover quickly.

Ground and Pound Defense:

With sparse data on ground and pound defense, Chimaev’s ability to avoid being grounded for extended periods demonstrates a passive defense. Notably, in the Burns fight, Chimaev’s recovery from being dropped showcases his quick offensive response, minimizing damage.

Grappling/boxing defense from the top position reveals vulnerabilities, particularly against hammer fists and upkicks. However, there is a lack of sufficient examples

Submission Defense:

Chimaev’s submission defense, often overlooked, is notable for avoiding threats like guillotines during takedown attempts. His clever neutralization of Kevin Holland’s submission attempts and the swift recognition of triangle setups emphasize his defensive prowess. Facing BJJ expert Gilbert Burns, Chimaev showcased an impeccable defense.

Takedown Offense:

Chimaev’s takedown offense is characterized by relentless pursuit and dominance. Employing an aggressive style, he excels in obtaining double underhooks, enabling powerful lifts and slams. A master of underhooks, Chimaev’s high-amplitude takedowns set him apart.

Ground and Pound Offense:

Chimaev’s ground and pound prowess is unrivaled, as witnessed in his fights where he grinds opponents into submission. His ability to control and deliver damaging shots without losing position showcases his dominance. While opponents occasionally scramble, Chimaev’s relentless pursuit ensures control or a swift return to the mat.

Submission Offense:

Despite an impressive submission finishing rate, Chimaev’s offensive arsenal is limited to rear-naked chokes and D’Arce chokes. The lack of diversity in techniques is a notable criticism.

 Comparing the stats Chimeav has better take down and strong is ground positions with 52% significant strikes on ground position, Shavkat has 18% significant strikes on ground position.

The takedown accuracy of Chimaev is 46% and he has taken down Kamaru Usman the legend in welterweight division. Shavkat has 29% take down accuracy which is not so impressive.

Chimaev Takedown Avg / 15 mins is 3.99 and Shavkat Takedown Avg / 15 mins is 1.49.

Submission skills of Shavkat is higher than Chimaev.Shavkat has submitted 5 UFC fighters in his 6 fights so far. Chimaev has 3 wins of his 7 fights .

Overall, both has a strong wrestling and grappling background.But considering the quality of fighters these two faced in their previous occasions,  Chimaev has higher chance of winning the wrestling match, but in terms of submission skills one small mistake from Chimaev could cost a match for him against Shavkat because of Shavkat submission skills.

Cardio Comparison

Both Shavkat Rakhmonov and Chimaev have limited data regarding their five-round fight cardio due to their predominantly short fight times in the UFC. However, analyzing their available data and recent performances offers some insights.

Shavkat Rakhmonov:

 Only two three-round fights in his professional career.

 Average fight time in the UFC: 8 minutes and 22 seconds.

 Total fight time in the UFC: 50 minutes and 11 seconds.

 Looked energetic throughout his fight against Geoff Neal, finishing in the 4th minute.

Khamzat Chimaev:

 Also has only two three-round fights.

 Average fight time in the UFC: 6 minutes and 27 seconds.

 Total fight time in the UFC: 45 minutes and 7 seconds.

 Showed signs of fatigue in his fight against Kamaru Usman, particularly in rounds 2 and 3.

Conclusion:

While Shavkat has maintained his pace throughout shorter fights, the limited data makes it difficult to definitively say he has better cardio than Chimaev. Chimaev’s  performance against Usman suggests potential limitations in five-round fights, but his win highlights his fighting spirit. More data from both fighters in extended bouts is needed for a conclusive comparison.

Power Comparison

Chimaev’s Power:

 Displayed impressive power in his 1-punch KO of Gerald Meerschaert in his third UFC fight.

 Lifted opponent Li Jingliang and spoke to Dana White, showing confidence and intimidation tactics.

 Strong wrestling and diverse striking, with 6 KOs in 13 fights (0.66 knockdowns per 15 minutes).

 “Lunatic vibe” adds to his intimidating presence.

Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Power:

 Possesses crisp boxing skills and knockout power, evident in his KO of Carlston Harris.

 Utilizes diverse striking beyond punches, including spinning leg kicks and head kicks.

 More submissions in his finishing arsenal compared to Chimaev, with 1 KO and 10 submissions in 18 fights (0.30 knockdowns per 15 minutes).

Comparison:

 Direct comparison is challenging due to limited KO data and differing fighting styles.

 Chimaev’s pressure-heavy style may create more KO opportunities, while Rakhmonov’s wrestling leads to different setups.

 Both have impressive striking capabilities, though their finishing preferences vary.

Chin Comparison

Comparing the chin strength of Khamzat Chimaev and Shavkat Rakhmonov is no easy feat. Both fighters boast impressive records, with Chimaev remaining undefeated and Rakhmonov showcasing remarkable resilience.

Let’s delve into the evidence and see if we can shed light on this intriguing matchup.

The Undefeated Iron Jaw of Khamzat Chimaev:

 Never been knocked out: This fact alone speaks volumes about Chimaev’s ability to withstand punishment.

 Burns Test: His fight against Gilbert Burns, a renowned striker, showcased his chin’s resilience, taking significant blows without going down.

 Limited data: With only 13 fights, drawing definitive conclusions is challenging.

The Zombie Chin of Shavkat Rakhmonov:

 Champion’s endorsement: Former champion Henry Cejudo hails Rakhmonov’s chin as “strong” and compares him to a zombie for his ability to absorb punches.

 “Superpower” of endurance: Cejudo emphasizes Rakhmonov’s ability to keep going despite getting hit, attributing it to both his chin and overall conditioning.

 Mexican blood joke: Cejudo humorously suggests Rakhmonov might have some Mexican ancestry due to his exceptional punch resistance.

Statistical Analysis:

 Strike absorption: Chimaev absorbs more strikes per minute (3.46) than Rakhmonov (2.41), suggesting he faces more pressure.

 Elite competition: Chimaev has faced two top-ranked fighters, Burns and Usman, further highlighting his chin’s mettle.

The Verdict:

Both Chimaev and Rakhmonov possess impressive chins, evidenced by their records and ability to withstand strikes. However, definitive conclusions are hampered by limited data and the subjective nature of “chin strength.” Their fighting styles also influence their strike absorption rates. Ultimately, only time and future fights against elite strikers will provide a clearer picture of their respective chin strengths.