Kalinn Williams knows what’s it like to get knocked down. But he also knows what it takes to get back up, even when it feels like the cards might be stacked against you. Williams, who was given the nickname “Khaos” as a child, fights in the UFC, and until recently, was on a two-fight losing streak.
Just like how he turned his life around while behind bars, Williams was determined not to let his lowest moments define him. On Saturday, May 16, Williams ended his losing streak in typical fashion — a crushing 1st round knockout against his opponent Nikolay Veretennikov.
Williams’ story doesn’t start in the octagon. Born in South Bend, Indiana, Williams moved to Jackson when he was 18. It was here that he began his MMA career, but it’s also where Williams found himself headed down the wrong path. He found himself behind bars at 18 years old after being convicted of selling cocaine. During his time in jail, Williams decided he wanted to do more with his life.
“I will say, going through what I’ve been through, it definitely made me the man I am today,” reflects Williams. “When your freedom is taken away, it makes you appreciate your freedom even more.”
While incarcerated, he earned a high school diploma through an online program at T.A. Wilson Academy. Williams admits that he didn’t have a role model, but he hopes that through his actions, he can be that positive influence for others.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t have the guidance that I needed,” says Williams. “So, I try to be the person that I needed when I was coming up.”
And so far, Williams has been just that.
Trust in the Process
After a fight video of his went viral, Williams realized that there might be a future in MMA. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) with Leo Aponte, his former high school teacher. Pretty soon, Williams was competing in the local amateur circuit, where his powerful striking and electrifying knockouts earned him recognition.
“I was blessed with the God-given talent to knock people out,” says Williams.
At 23 years old, Williams made his welterweight debut in 2017 at KOTC: Supremacy in Wyandotte. He knocked out Brandon Johnson in the first round. From that point on, Williams was almost untouchable, quickly amassing a dominant 9-1 record. His sterling record and showmanship began attracting attention from the UFC.
Stepping in on one-week notice, Williams made his UFC debut at UFC 247 in 2020. In classic “Khaos-style”, he knocked out his opponent Alex Morono in 27 seconds. Williams’ first-round victory earned him Performance of the Night and put his name on the map.
“I jumped in with blind faith, and now people all over the world know my name,” says Williams.
In his sophomore appearance, Williams once again put his stopping power on full display. Just 31 seconds into his bout with Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Fight Night 182, Williams unleashed a crippling strike to the chin. For the second fight in a row, Williams was awarded Performance of the Night. Out of nine career knockouts, four have come in the first round. Williams calls himself a “showtime fighter”, earning fans and making a name for himself through his stand-up fighting style.
Despite his connection to Jackson, Williams has fought out of Detroit since entering the UFC. He has strong family bonds to the city and opened up an investment company called Red Diamond Real Estate in Detroit. He currently lives in a metro-Detroit suburb.
These days his training takes him around the country, but he still works with gyms around the tri-county area and beyond. Some of the local trainers he’s worked with include Tyrone Gooden at Vision BJJ (Wixom), John Toth at Detroit Jiu Jitsu Academy (Dearborn), Daron Cruickshank at Michigan Top Team (Southfield), and Karlin “Kaveman” Moses Lyons at Bob Kerr Boxing (Jackson).
What’s Next?
Even though he’s less than three weeks out from his previous fight, Williams is already thinking about his next opponent. He made it clear that he’ll fight whoever the UFC throws at him, but there’s one fighter in particular that Williams has his sights set on: Uroš Medić. The two were supposed to meet at UFC 316 on June 7, but Medić pulled out of the fight with a sinus infection. Instead, Williams fought Andreas Gustafsson and suffered a third round loss. Williams wants a chance to face Medić in the octagon for the fight they were supposed to have last year.
“Me and the doctor have some unfinished business,” says Williams. “He’s a puncher and I’m a puncher, so that would be a great fight. It’s inevitable that it’s going to happen.”
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