UFC John Pork - Who Is Magomed 'Chanco' Zaynukov?

An undefeated UFC newcomer and Islam Makhachev’s training partner, ‘John Pork’ AKA Magomed ‘Chanco’ Zaynukov, is capturing the spotlight ahead of his promotional debut, but not for the reasons you might expect.

The success of a UFC champion is built on the strength of their training camp, and lightweight king Islam Makhachev is no exception. Surrounded by world-class talent from his Dagestani team, Makhachev hones his skills with some of the most formidable grapplers and strikers across various disciplines and sports. Among this elite group of training partners, one name stands out for his exceptional striking pedigree: Magomed ‘Chanco’ Zaynukov, a treasured sparring partner and Muay Thai specialist, fans have nicknamed ‘John Pork.’

Zaynukov, nicknamed ‘Chanco’ by his training partners, has been helping Makhachev prepare for the main event of UFC 322, against a dangerous striker in UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalenna.

Who is Magomed Zaynukov?

“Chanco” however, has steadily gained internet popularity over the past year thanks to a community meme in which fans refer to him by the name “John Pork.” With “Chanco” making appearances alongside Makhachev, this niche internet reference riled up fans all fight week.

The power of the viral meme was on full display during the UFC 322 press conference. Despite not having a single UFC fight to his name yet, Zaynukov received some of the biggest cheers from the crowd.

Magomed Zaynukov is one of the most valued striking partners for Islam Makhachev. The seasoned Muay Thai expert 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 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.

Why Do UFC Fans Call Him John Pork?

The bizarre nickname has a simple, accidental origin. In a video last year posted by UFC legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. He was visiting Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov to train. Makhachev introduced Johnson to his fight camp team.

Islam’s pronunciation of Zaynukov’s real nickname, “Chanco,” made it sound like the words “John Pork,”. Which the internet immediately latched onto and turned into a meme.

The joke was amplified by its connection to an existing online meme. “John Pork is calling” is a pre-existing nonsensical meme that people find funny due to its sheer absurdity:

The shared name fueled the trend, and fans began flooding Zaynukov’s social media comments with the name “John Pork” and memes featuring the porcine character.

Makhachev told streamer Adin Ross that the Instagram page of “Chanco” was so inundated with comments that he considered turning off his Instagram comments entirely.

Here is a clip of Islam revealing this fact, first streamed by Adin Ross and reposted by Delinqeunt MMA on X:

Islam Makhachev tells the chat to stop calling his teammate 'John Pork' 😂

"Guys please don't call him John Pork he very upset."#UFC322 pic.twitter.com/BJQt6mlaVG
— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) November 11, 2025

Zaynukov’s story highlights the unpredictable nature of modern sports fame, where a simple internet joke can propel an athlete into the spotlight overnight. As he prepares for his UFC debut, “Wild Chanco” will have to use his legitimate Muay Thai skills to make fans remember his real name, and not just the one they jokingly gave him.