Levan Chokheli

Levan Chokheli is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Known for devastating knockout power, 12 of his 15 wins have come by stoppage, with 11 in the first round. He made a spectacular UFC debut in June 2026, finishing Leon Shahbazyan in 23 seconds. Chokheli fights out of Tbilisi and trains across multiple camps in Georgia, Germany, and the United States. [edit]

Chokheli grew up in Tbilisi, Georgia, a country with a deep wrestling tradition. He began his professional MMA career in April 2016 and won his first nine fights, all by knockout or TKO, many in under a minute. He fought five times at lightweight before moving up to welterweight. Before joining the UFC, he competed in Bellator, where he went 4-3 with one knockout, including a 51-second stoppage of Sebastian Homasi at Bellator 299 in September 2023. [edit]

Chokheli's breakthrough came on June 20, 2026, at UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi, where he defeated Leon Shahbazyan by TKO in 23 seconds. The finish came via a calf kick, 1-2 combination, and overhand to the body, a sequence he had been working on for weeks. He was a 4-1 betting favorite. After the win, he stated he wants to climb the UFC rankings quickly and believes his Bellator experience proves he is title-ready. He has eight career wins in under one minute. [edit]

Chokheli is portrayed by media as a devastating knockout artist with exceptional finishing ability. His fighting style is aggressive and striking-heavy, though he has stated his wrestling is good from his Georgian background. He prefers to stay on the feet and throw hands but acknowledges he will need to show grappling skills against tougher competition. No official fandom name is documented. [edit]

Levan Chokheli enters the global arena with a roar that silenced an entire stadium in 23 seconds. The moment his outside leg kick shattered Leon Shahbazyan's stance at UFC Vegas 119, the fight was over before the crowd could register the sound of impact. That single strike transformed a prospect into a headline act overnight, cementing a reputation for devastating power that few have ever matched. Fans still recount the opening bell of that night as the instant they realized they were witnessing something extraordinary, replaying the viral clip endlessly across sports networks. Despite this explosive start, Chokheli has not yet cultivated a formal identity among his supporters. No organized fan campaigns, specific rituals, or dedicated subcultures have emerged to define his audience. His public profile reflects a standard athlete-fan dynamic rather than the elaborate social movements seen with other combat sports legends. There are no documented birthday billboards, subway ads, or charity drives bearing his name. As iFANN prepares its first comprehensive data collection in August 2026, the landscape remains undefined. The system has not yet gathered sufficient fame metrics to assign a specific placement to the Georgian knockout artist.[edit]

Levan Chokheli owns a horse in Georgia and maintains training camps across three nations: Georgia, Germany, and the United States. Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili worked his corner during his UFC debut. The fighter boasts eight wins in under one minute, with his fastest stoppage occurring in just 17 seconds. Initially, Chokheli was told his first UFC opponent declined the bout, but the fight was booked a week later anyway. His most iconic moment arrived at UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi (also referred to as UFC Vegas 119) against Leon Shahbazyan. The event ended in a vicious TKO after only 23 seconds of action, a performance described by outlets like CagePress and Yahoo Sports as an obliteration. This rapid finish stands as the definitive verified event in his career, cementing his reputation as a devastating knockout artist before he had even established a long-term record. It is said fans still recount the opening bell of that night as the instant the world realized they were witnessing something extraordinary. The outside leg kick that dropped Shahbazyan so completely became an immediate viral clip, replayed endlessly across sports networks. This transformation from prospect to headline act overnight proved that his power could end careers before the crowd fully registered the sound of impact.[edit]

Chokheli was born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgia. Details about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented. He currently lives and trains in Tbilisi, with additional training camps in Nevada and Germany. He has mentioned owning a horse in Georgia. [edit]

Chokheli trains alongside UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who worked his corner for his UFC debut. He also trains with Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani. He has faced Leon Shahbazyan (defeated), Lorenz Larkin (lost), and Sebastian Homasi (defeated). [edit]

No confirmed romantic relationships, marriages, or dating history for Levan Chokheli are reported in any public sources. There are no mentions of a spouse, partner, girlfriend, ex-wife, or children. His relationship status as of 2026 is unknown. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Levan Chokheli's net worth at $500,000 in 2026. His income stems primarily from fight purses, though his specific earnings for the UFC debut remain undisclosed. Before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he competed in Bellator and various regional promotions. Chokheli has publicly mentioned sponsors including Finks Sports and AdjaraBet within Georgia. As a rising star in the UFC welterweight division, his financial standing is projected to grow alongside future bouts.[edit]