Khamzat Chimaev Names Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria And Arman Tsarukyan As Complete Fighters
Ahead of the Sean Strickland fight, Khamzat Chimaev isn’t interested in the old labels. And when he explains why, it’s hard to disagree with him. In a recent interview, Chimaev pushed back on the idea that he and his peers, Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria, and Arman Tsarukyan, are one-dimensional fighters who found a system and stuck to it. The argument he’s making is bigger than that.
The narrative around Makhachev often focuses on his wrestling and Dagestani grappling, while overlooking the completeness of his overall game. Similarly, Topuria is a champion because he can hurt opponents standing and still dominate on the ground. On the other hand, Tsarukyan and Chimaev have also shown they can finish fights in different ways throughout the rounds.
“Everyone thinks Islam is just a wrestler. What wrestler? Islam has knocked people out. Ilia Topuria grapples well, Arman grapples well too. We know grappling, we know striking. All of us have knocked people out, submitted, and outwrestled people. It’s a completely different sport,” Chimaev said.
Khamzat Chimaev highlights how him, Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria, and Arman Tsarukyan are complete MMA fighters
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 29, 2026
“A pure wrestler without striking or grappling awareness, what could he do against a UFC fighter? Everyone thinks Islam is just a wrestler. What wrestler? Islam has… pic.twitter.com/AYfCqJTYcA
What Chimaev is really pointing to is a generational shift in what ‘complete’ actually means. Fighters in the past were not in short supply. But today, the mix of skills has improved so much that the gap between striking and grappling is smaller than ever. These four represent a group that grew up training everything simultaneously rather than adding layers onto a single base.
Chael Sonnen Says Khamzat Chimaev Is A Rare Breed
Sonnen made the case for Chimaev being a genuinely uncommon kind of competitor. It’s not just because of how he fights, but because of what drives him to fight in the first place. The argument isn’t about skill or record. It’s about hunger, and where that hunger comes from.
“Chimaev will take on anybody, and it’s very difficult to find somebody like that. To find a reigning, sitting world champion who doesn’t need the money, doesn’t need the attention, and still finds somebody who likes to compete so much that he’s going into a different organization just for a chance to compete,” Sonnen said.
Chael Sonnen says Khamzat Chimaev will take on anybody and it’s rare to find a fighter like him
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 21, 2026
“Chimaev will take on anybody, and it’s very difficult to find somebody like that. To find a reigning, sitting world champion who doesn’t need the money, doesn’t need the attention,… pic.twitter.com/ykJBK7mbZm
Champions who reach the top and immediately become protective of what they’ve built are the norm. They manage risk, pick spots, and wait for the right opportunity. Chimaev keeps doing the opposite, and Sonnen’s point is that in the modern era of the sport, that makes him genuinely hard to find.
Khamzat Chimaev Names Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria And Arman Tsarukyan As Complete Fighters
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