Great Run Kid, But Royce Gracie Did It First...
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Khamzat Chimaev continued his tour of destruction inside the Octagon this past Saturday night (Sept. 19, 2020) after he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds in a Middleweight affair at UFC Vegas 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada (see it again here).
The win was “Borz’s” third straight since making his debut last July. In doing so, Chimaev set a record for the fastest fighter to get three wins under the UFC banner in the shortest amount of time, 66 days.
Or so we thought.
Former UFC referee John McCarthy decided to give fight fans a history lesson by reminding everyone that long before Chimaev set records and caught the hearts and attention of fans around the world, there were others who did it before him.
“Sorry UFC and Megan Olivi, but to say if Khamzat Chimaev gets a win tonight he sets a record for fastest time to win 3 fights in the UFC??? How about a guy named Royce Gracie who did it in 1 night at UFC 1 and then 4 more at UFC 2. Fake stats. The kid is great, but don’t forget the old guys,” he wrote on Twitter.
Furthermore, Mark Coleman took the time to give Chimaev his props before McCarthy turned the tables and reminded “The Hammer” that he did it before Chimaev, as well.
Hummm,,,, As I recall @Markcolemanmma you had 3 wins in “1” night at UFC 10. Damn impressive. So let me get this right,,,,,, he just set the record for 3 wins in 66 days??? Interesting. Don’t forget the past my friend, you were a stud too!! https://t.co/0ZvdfDWEm6
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) September 20, 2020
Indeed, Gracie defeated Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeau back in 1993 to win the UFC 1 open-weight tournament. He followed up that great run by winning four fights in one night a year later at UFC 2. Coleman, meanwhile, did the same two years later to win the UFC 10 tournament after defeating Moti Horenstein, Gary Goodridge and Don Frye.
McCarthy was the referee for all three events.
UFC commentator Jon Anik, meanwhile, stepped in to defend Olivi as well as Chimaev, saying that perhaps a bit more clarification regarding the record set by “Borz” in the modern era of the sport would erase any confusion or debate.
“My man. With all due respect to the legend and those bygone days when fighting multiple times in a night was permitted, this was a modern-era distinction,” said Anik on Twitter. “Perhaps we lacked clarity on that, but to suggest there was any intent to disrespect/forget is a reach, my brother.”
Chimaev is in talks to make his quick return next month to potentially face longtime veteran Demain Maia at a “Fight Night” even on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. Should he also prove victorious there — which bookies think he will — his stock will blow up even more.
