Chimaev puts Li to sleep in UFC 267 return bout

Khamzat Chimaev stepped into the Octagon for the first time in 13 months and reminded everyone why he was one of the hottest stars in 2020.

Chimaev submitted Li Jingliang with a rear-naked choke at the 3:16 mark of the first round in a welterweight bout at UFC 267 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

"I kill everybody," Chimaev said in his postfight interview, according to MMA Fighting's Damon Martin. "I'm the champ."

"Borz" dominated Li from the opening horn, becoming the first person to finish him before the third round. Chimaev scored a takedown in the early seconds of the fight and never let Li back to his feet. He flattened out "The Leech" and almost finished him with ground-and-pound before sinking in the submission.

Chimaev hadn't competed since a September 2020 knockout win over Gerald Meerschaert due to a nasty bout of COVID-19. He pulled out of multiple fights earlier in 2021 because of lingering symptoms.

The 27-year-old debuted in the UFC in July 2020, winning two fights in 10 days to become one of the hottest prospects in mixed martial arts. With the triumph over Li, Chimaev improved his professional record to 10-0.

Through four UFC bouts, Chimaev has out-landed his opponents 112-1 in significant strikes, according to TSN's Aaron Bronsteter.

Li entered Saturday's event coming off a knockout win over Santiago Ponzinibbio in January. The Chinese fighter dropped to 1-2 in his past three outings.