UFC middleweight star Khamzat Chimaev made a significant impact at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi last week, creating a seismic shift in the middleweight division that can still be felt days after the fight. ‘Borz’ not only stopped former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round but did so in a jaw-dropping manner. Quite literally!

With his 14th win in his MMA career, Khamzat Chimaev has extended his undefeated record and caused a substantial upheaval in the middleweight rankings, jumping to the 3rd spot and pushing ‘The Reaper’ down to 4th. Chimaev is now eyeing a future as the division’s king, yet he is currently just happy to silence his critics who have targeted him for his pullout habits due to illness.

Before moving on to his next fight, ‘Borz’ has been enjoying the attention he’s received following his 14th victory. He showcased this in an interview with CBS Sports’ Shaquille Mahjouri on his YouTube channel. When the host pressed Khamzat Chimaev with a humorous question about his nickname ‘Broz,’ which means “wolf” in Swedish, and asked what could be an animal-based nickname for his opponent Robert Whittaker, Chimaev humorously compared ‘The Reaper to a kangaroo, saying, “I don’t know… kangaroo? He is jumping like it; he has good footwork.”

This comparison seemed fitting, as Whittaker is from Australia, where the kangaroo is a national symbol, making  Khamzat Chimaev’s comment both amusing and intriguing for fans. ‘Borz’ , now displaying a more relaxed and gentlemanly demeanor, has shown a lighthearted side, possibly taking cues from other fighters—a change that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his former opponent, Gilbert Burns, who had some remarks about Chenchen’s prospect-evolving personality.