Those who have followed his fighting rise will know middleweight is not Chivers’ usual weight class. He typically fights in the division below, welterweight.
However, such MMA events are usually one-day affairs and as is typical in the combat sports, fighters weigh in lighter the day before they compete, then quickly bulk back up to their normal weight.
Six-day tournamentAs this was a six-day tournament, Chivers was unable to maintain his usual 77 kilograms so was forced to go up a division against bigger and heavier men.
Instead of having to keep weight off, Chivers had to eat all week to sit at 84kg.
For someone whose fighting mantra — born of his training at his original gym, Te Kura Awhio in Gisborne — is “on weight and on time”, the change in weight class was a hurdle.
“Moving up I was pretty nervous because I knew they were quite big dudes. By the end of the week they were allowed to weigh 87kg while I was at 84 so I was not too undersized.”
After winning his first fight (by an armbar submission in round 3) over Poland’s Nikodem Ziemecki, the momentum kept building.
He beat Irishman Diarmuid O’Buachalla by TKO in round 1 of his second fight and Northern Ireland’s Aaron Kennedy by split decision in his third fight, putting him through to the semifinals.
“It is hard to explain. It is not that I did not expect to win — I always knew I had the ability to take this competition out — but I am never overconfident in preparation.
“When we got there, though, everything just felt good.”
Dealt an emotional blowEmotionally, however, he was dealt a huge blow when his partner’s mother passed away the day before the final.
Chivers showed maturity beyond his 19 years to push through that devastating news, as well as the pressure of it being the biggest moment in his career.
“I came here with a purpose and that is what I had to keep telling myself. I was there to compete and win, and as soon as the door closed my head would always switch on and blank out.
“I would be all about the fight. There was no wasted energy on anything else. I was 100 percent in the fight.”
The emotions flowed afterwards. As Chivers stood on the top spot of the podium, draped in the New Zealand flag and with God Defend New Zealand ringing out, he could not help but tear up.
“I was super emotional. I was ecstatic, just super happy all the hard work paid off. Winning the competition felt so good. I still cannot describe it.”
Before the tournament Chivers — who now trains under Steve Oliver at Oliver MMA in Auckland — attended an intensive training camp in San Diego.
Back in training modeHe is back in training mode, this time in Miami, Florida, where he is training under ATT founder Ricardo Liborio.
ATT is one of the premier feeders of MMA into the UFC.
“I am just soaking it all in but hopefully we can get some good training in with some top dudes at high level, then just see what happens.”
He will return to New Zealand in a few weeks, just in time for the NZ Grapplers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi nationals on August 6.
Chivers said he would not be where he is today without ongoing support.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has given me support in any way.
“The biggest thanks are to the people who have always been there, like my mum, nan and siblings.
“To my coaches at Te Kura Awhio, and Steve and Jimmy, you guys are the reason we won this world title. I love you all.
“I am just getting started, I am going to keep pushing.
“This is just the beginning.”
