Khamzat Chimaev is difficult at work coaching for a No. 1 contender’s match towards Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 on October twenty sixth. No less than, he hopes it’s a No. 1 contender’s match. And he’s being cautious to not practice too arduous, lest he find yourself hospitalized once more.
Chimaev and Whittaker have been presupposed to battle again in June for the UFC’s debut present in Saudi Arabia. Sadly, Chimaev ended up being hospitalized multiple times and the battle was referred to as off. No definitive solutions have been given on Khamzat’s situation — the overall opinion is the Chechen fighter overtrains to the point of physical collapse.
Now he has left Saudi Arabia to return residence to Russia the place he’s coaching within the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic on the foot of Mount Elbrus. The mountain air has reportedly done wonders for Chimaev’s health, and the situation means a brand new workforce of trainers together with his authentic hometown wrestling coach.
“They now let me relaxation and recuperate correctly,” Chimaev mentioned in a brand new interview with Hustle. “I used to go to the gymnasium and simply practice til I used to be finished. However then I ended up within the hospital just like the final time after I was in hospital thrice in a row inside three weeks. My immune system went down, I received sick. Now I exploit a greater strategy. I work with good coaches, raised numerous world champions … I’m going to take an enormous step ahead.”
Chimaev will want an enormous step ahead if he hopes to final 5 rounds with Robert Whittaker. Chimaev eked out a majority choice win over Kamaru Usman in October 2023 after blowing by his fuel tank within the first spherical. How he’ll deal with a 5 spherical battle is an enormous query, one he must reply earlier than combating for the title. If, that’s, the UFC continues to be going to present him a title shot.
“We’ll see, each time they promise me the No. 1 contender spot, nevertheless it turned on the market was one other contender after that,” he mentioned. “After combating Usman, I didn’t get a shot. Now for the third time I’ll be the No. 1 contender. We’ll see.”
With Chimaev having so many points staying wholesome, it’s no shock the UFC is a bit iffy on handing him a title shot. There’s additionally the problem of his journey restrictions. Resulting from his shut relationship with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, he’s unable to enter North America. However he’s hopeful he’ll get a shot at middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.
“For me he’s rather more handy than different fighters,” he mentioned of Du Plessis. “We’ve got his wrestling method discovered. We’ll counter it, knock him down, hold him down, and he is aware of it. That’s why he’s silent about me.”
First he’ll have to stay healthy and get previous Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi.
