Welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev thinks it’s time for the UFC to sign his teammate, Josefine “Thunder” Knutsson.
Speaking exclusively to Frontkick.online, “Borz” made clear that he feels Knutsson is ready for that next step after moving to 4-0 during one of last week’s ‘Road to UFC’ events in Singapore.
“She did good, she won and she’s ready for the UFC. She’s coming for them,” Chimaev told Frontkick.
Nervousness affected Josefine Knutsson’s performance – won decisively anyway: “She’s supposed to finish this girl”
Knutsson, a former Muay Thai and kickboxing champion, is considered one of Sweden’s hottest MMA prospects right now. She’s one of the hardest workers at the Allstars Training Center in Stockholm and the 26-year-old strawweight has been extremely dominant thus far in her MMA career.
Not only has she not lost a round, but she’s even secured at least one 10-8 score in every single fight up to this point – not by lying and praying or anything, but rather by smashing her opponents with nasty kicks, punches, knees and elbows.
Knutsson’s got one knockout on her record and most recently passed her biggest test up to date when she walked away with a clear-cut decision win over South Korean grappler Ye Dam Seo.
“She’s supposed to finish this girl, but because it’s close to the UFC she got nervous,” Chimaev said.
Josefine Knutsson: “If I get a contract in the UFC, I will bring my everything, I will step it up – I’ll have no choice”
Knutsson shared that sentiment herself after her ‘Road to UFC’ win, as she admitted to feeling a bit disappointed by her performance despite winning decisively.
“If I’m gonna be honest, I’m not completely happy with my performance,” Knutsson said during her post-fight interview inside the octagon. “I know I can do better, but I should bring everything in this fight so no excuses. I’m gonna go home and work harder. But I want my contract in the UFC. Because I know, if I get a contract in the UFC, I will bring my everything, I will step it up – I’ll have no choice. So that’s all I’m waiting for.”
That sure points to a mindset of a future champion, who elevates her own game the harder opponents she gets matched up against.
As of right now, there aren’t that many strawweights outside of the UFC that make sense for Knutsson – or that are even willing to fight her – and the Swedish fans are eager to see “Thunder” prove herself against the top fighters in the world.
Watch the full interview with Khamzat Chimaev right here!
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