The growth of UFC 322 headliner Islam Makhachev didn’t happen in a vacuum. Behind every dominant champion is a room full of killers, training partners who sharpen the sword well before fight night. Similarly, the Dagestani camp is full of grapplers, world-class wrestlers, and experienced strikers. Among them is one name the internet knows perhaps a little too well: Magomed Zaynukov, the Muay Thai specialist fans have hilariously nicknamed ‘John Pork.’
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Most of Makhachev’s teammates often become the focal point of a conversation. But Zaynukov has become in the most unusual way possible. The internet catapulted him to stardom, fight week crowds chanted his accidental nickname, and a serious, decorated striker has become one of the most unexpectedly legendary individuals heading into UFC 322. And here’s exactly how it all happened.
Who is Magomed Zaynukov?
Magomed Zaynukov is one of the most valued striking partners of Islam Makhachev. The seasoned Muay Thai specialist often raises the pressure during the sparring sessions. Inside the training room, he goes by the nickname ‘Wild Chanco,’ which stems from his unpredictable, high-tempo striking.
Zaynukov adds more value to the Makhachev’s training ahead of his title defense at UFC 322 against Jack Della Maddalena, a welterweight known for his tremendous knockout power. His sparring offers a completely different look from the typical Dagestani grappling grind. Zaynukov delivers pace, hard kicks, and problem-solving chaos, forcing Makhachev to adapt on the move.
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But, while his work is valued within the gym, the internet has transformed him into something quite different. Over the past year, he’s accidentally gone viral because fans began calling him ‘John Pork,’ a nickname that he truly hates. But how did he earn that moniker?
The origins behind his nickname ‘John Pork’?
The entire saga began with an innocent on-camera interaction. When Demetrious Johnson came to film a training session with Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, the UFC 322 star introduced his team. And when he said Magomed Zaynukov’s nickname, “Chanco,” it sounded almost identical to “John Pork.”
And as expected, the internet wasted no time. Fans clipped the moment and combined it with the existing meme “John Pork is calling,” and the joke went viral immediately. From there, Zaynukov’s social media became a battleground of pig emojis, prank comments, and followers spamming “JOHN PORK!!!” underneath every post. It didn’t help that the meme already existed: a strange, ludicrous craze with a chubby, animated pig face appearing on phones.
The shared name created a perfect storm, and the MMA world jumped on it. The only problem? Magomed Zaynukov hates it. He’s repeatedly corrected fans with a disgruntled, “No John Pork, Chan-co!” following his DWCS appearance, and Makhachev even informed Adin Ross that Zaynukov was so fed up that he considered turning off Instagram comments entirely. However, as is typical of online culture, the more he pushed back, the more popular the nickname got.
‘Chanco’ shines at Islam Makhachev’s UFC 322 presser
At the UFC 322 press conference, the meme jumped fully into reality. Despite not being a UFC fighter yet, Magomed Zaynukov drew some of the night’s loudest reactions. When he appeared on camera or was referenced with Islam Makhachev, fans erupted in repeated cries of “JOHN PORK!” What began as an inside joke nearly stole the show, causing even experienced fighters to turn around and laugh at the bizarre energy in the room.
It was the most obvious indicator yet that Zaynukov had become an odd fan favorite. Not because of promotional hype or a lengthy resume, but because of a single mispronounced phrase and a meme that will not die. And now, as he prepares to back Makhachev at UFC 322, he faces an unusual challenge: proving that behind the jokes and chants is a real martial artist with serious striking ability.
Zaynukov’s career exemplifies how unpredictable fame can be in the social media age. He was once a respected Muay Thai practitioner assisting Makhachev in sharpening his tools; the next, he was ‘John Pork,’ a meme-turned-crowd sensation. As he moves closer to the UFC spotlight, he hopes fans will remember his real name, ‘Wild Chanco,’ rather than the one the internet gave him humorously.
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