UFC star Khamzat Chimaev dominating his previous opponent was a spectacular and rather scary sight.
The 29-year-old Chechen took his UFC 279 rival, Kevin Holland, to the ground in the opening seconds of the bout and submitted him within a few minutes. His prowess in the UFC has attracted a lot of fans who would want to know more about him.
While there is a lot of information available on the UFC 294 co-main event star, there are some lesser-known facts also.
Recent updates revealed that Chimaev will no longer represent Sweden and has changed his nationality to the UAE. Still, several fans may know that the undefeated UFC star traces his roots way back to Chechnya in Russia. Similarly, most fans would also know that he goes by the moniker of ‘Borz.’
But, many of them may not be aware of what it means and what attracted Chimaev to the ‘Borz’ moniker he uses for his UFC career.
What is the meaning of ‘Borz’ and why does Khamzat Chimaev go by this moniker?
Chimaev’s nickname is proof that he is still deeply connected to his native place. The word ‘Borz’ translates to ‘wolf’ in Chechen, which is the language of Chimaev’s homeland Chechnya. In Chechen culture, the wolf represents bravery, strength, and loyalty. It is also the region’s national animal.
Fans may agree that several characteristics of a wolf are reflected in Chimaev’s combat style. He dominates his opponents with his wrestling and striking prowess in the octagon. And much like wolves, Chimaev is always on the prowl to ‘kill somebody’ as he puts it.
Interestingly enough, Chimaev did not choose the name for himself. Chimaev’s instructor Andreas Michael gave him the moniker ‘Borz’ after witnessing his training sessions. But why did he choose this name for his student?
Michael once mentioned that the 29-year-old’s aggressiveness and tenacity made him look like a wolf. After watching his performances in the cage, not many would disagree with that opinion. However, is there another reason behind the nickname?
Khamzat Chimaev’s nickname may have a rebellious touch to it
Most fans may know that Chimaev was born in the year 1994. It was the same year in which Russia invaded his homeland of Chechnya. This also led to the formation of various armed Chechen militias to resist the Russian army. ‘Borz’ is also the name for all the improvised submachine guns that were produced in Chechnya between 1992 and 1999.
These weapons were used by the Chechen rebels during the First and Second Chechen Wars against the Russian forces. However, looking at the fact that Chimaev’s nickname was given by his Swedish coach, it’s hard to imagine that he had the ‘Borz’ guns in the back of his mind while naming Chimaev.