For many fighters in the promotion’s long history, getting to the Octagon more than twice a year has been a continuous hassle. While the potential for injury or other scheduling conflicts always looms for fighters training in MMA (and often working second jobs on the side), the simple fact is that – with a roster of well over 600 fighters – there just aren’t enough spots to keep fighters active. One fight per six months is often the best the UFC can do.
Unless, of course, you’re Khamzat Chimaev.
The Chechnyan-born Swede has taken the UFC by storm, beating John Phillips via D’Arce in a middleweight bout for his UFC debut in July, before turning around just ten days later to take on Rhys McKee—defeating the former Cage Warriors champion via first round TKO.