According to Arman Tsarukyan, Khamzat Chimaev has fixed what has long been perceived as his biggest weakness.
Having overcome a multitude of health issues that have prevented him from staying active in the cage, Chimaev is finally fast approaching his first title shot in the UFC.
The undefeated phenom has gotten past all those in his way so far, and the final hurdle in his way of winning gold is UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, who also boasts a puzzle that nobody has yet cracked inside the Octagon.
Many are tipping the fast-starting ‘Borz’ to be just what is required to beat ‘Stillknocks’, but according to one of his prominent training partners, Chimaev has more than one route to victory.
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Arman Tsarukyan touts Khamzat Chimaev’s improved conditioning ahead of UFC 319
In his most recent fight, Chimaev crushed Robert Whittaker with a face crank submission just minutes into their UFC 308 showdown. The 31-year-old has become renowned for bursting out of the gates, with the likes of Li Jingliang and Kevin Holland also falling to Chimaev in rapid fashion.
But ‘Borz’ has been pushed to the limit at times. After Gilbert Burns threatened to upset him in 2021, Chimaev was also sternly tested by Kamaru Usman in 2023. And what did those results have in common? The Chechen star was dragged to the distance in both.
That’s left many pointing to Chimaev’s cardio as his biggest weakness and predicting that Du Plessis’ path to victory lies on surviving the opening three rounds.
But while speaking to Kamil Gadzhiev in a recent interview, the most prominent figure in the unbeaten challenger’s UFC 319 camp, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, suggested that is no longer the case.
“In this camp, Khamzat has improved his recovery ability, and strength and conditioning,” Tsarukyan said (translated by Red Corner MMA).
“He’s been working on his strength and conditioning twice a week, in addition to striking sparring sessions and wrestling. He works with a new strength and conditioning coach (for his) cardio.
“So I believe in this upcoming fight, his cardio must be very good,” Tsarukyan added. “He’s been tested (in that area) every day. His recovery ability, there’s a device that shows his recovery stats every morning right after he gets up.”
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Dricus du Plessis’ teammate predicts Khamzat Chimaev won’t have time to show off cardio improvement
Tsarukyan’s remarks may further increase the number of MMA fans who expect Chimaev to end Du Plessis’ reign at UFC 319. But being counted out has never fazed the champion before.
Du Plessis has promised to beat Chimaev and continue his habit of proving his detractors wrong, and one of his teammates expects that to happen before the August 16 main event reaches the championship rounds.
“Dricus finishes him in under three. I can’t see (Chimaev) lasting more than three. He’s going to come out and burn himself (out),” Mark Hulme told talkSPORT.
“I don’t think people have seen the extent of Dricus’ wrestling, and if I know him, it’s that he’s got a point to prove. If people think Khamzat is the guy to wrestle, he might just hold him off and shove his head up his a–.”