If you didn't know the name Khamzat Chimaev before UFC Vegas 11, you probably do now. The rising MMA superstar, who previously won two fights in the span of ten days, quieted any doubters with a stunning 17-second knock out against middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert.
The Swedish phenom landed a flush right hand that caught Meerschaert square on the jaw and immediately knocked him out cold. The 17-second finish is the third fastest knockout in UFC middleweight history.
With the knockout, Chimaev also set a new record with the fastest 3-0 start in modern UFC history in just 66 days. He made his UFC debut back on July 15 and scored a second-round submission against John Phillips. He returned to the Octagon just 10 days later and put on an even better performance with a first round TKO finish of Rhys McKee.
There were some who believed after that second fight that Chimaev was ready for a top five opponent. After his brilliant performance tonight, there will be very few doubting Chimaev's expertise in the Octagon. With a 9-0 professional record, and a 3-0 start in the UFC, Chimaev is definitely ready for some top tier talent.