5 quickest turnarounds between fights in UFC history

#2. Khamzat Chimaev – UFC welterweight contender

Khamzat Chimaev shot to fame after winning back-to-back fights in the summer of 2020

Few fighters in UFC history have been able to capitalize on late notice, quick turnaround fights quite as much as Khamzat Chimaev. In the space of just ten days in the summer of 2020, he went from being a total unknown to one of the hottest fighters in the world of MMA.

Chimaev’s story began when he decided to take a bout with John Phillips on just eight days notice on the promotion’s second visit to Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island. At the time, ‘Borz’ held a 6-0 record but hadn’t really fought any big names and certainly wasn’t a heralded prospect.

However, Wales’ Phillips had nothing for him, as Chimaev dominated proceedings on the ground, en route to a second-round submission via D’Arce choke.

Uniquely, it was Chimaev, rather than the UFC, who decided on the quick turnaround before his next bout. Feeling he’d taken next to no damage from Phillips, he asked Dana White for a fight as soon as possible - and was matched with Rhys McKee just ten days after his first visit to the octagon.

The Sweden-based Chechnyan did not disappoint, dispatching ‘Skeletor’ in the first round via TKO. The hype train around him hasn’t slowed down since, as he’s delivered two more impressive wins and looks like a genuine title contender.

‘Borz’ may well be the best example of a fighter whose decision to take a bout on a quick turnaround paid off handsomely.

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#1. Loopy Godinez – UFC strawweight contender

Loopy Godinez holds the record for the quickest turnaround in UFC history, after taking two fights in the space of seven days

The current holder of the record for the quickest turnaround between fights in the UFC is strawweight prospect Loopy Godinez. She fought twice in the space of seven days in October 2021, and while she didn’t win both fights, the fact that she was willing to take the second in the first place deserves a ton of respect.

Godinez initially debuted in the octagon in April 2021, falling to a defeat against former strawweight title challenger Jessica Penne via unanimous decision. It was always likely to be a tough debut fight for her, so it came as no surprise when the promotion bought her back six months later.

This time, the Mexican fighter did not disappoint, as she submitted opponent Silvana Gomez Juarez with an armbar after just over four minutes. However, if she was expecting another six-month layoff following the bout, she was sorely mistaken.

Just one day after her victory, the UFC’s matchmakers contacted her to see if she’d be willing to face Luana Carolina in the octagon the very next weekend, as the Brazilian was left without an opponent following the withdrawal of Sijara Eubanks.

Godinez agreed and stepped up to 125lbs for the fight, making history in the process. Although she was defeated, her willingness to step up on such short notice has earned her a spot in the promotion’s history books - for now at least - and it’s likely that her octagon career will probably last far longer because of it.