The undefeated UFC middleweight title challenger appears to have been ticking every box in his training camp.
Dricus du Plessis believes that Khamzat Chimaev has doubts over his conditioning heading into their meeting on August 16 in Chicago.
It has been a common narrative among fans and fellow fighters that once the fight goes past the opening rounds, the odds will swing in the defending champion’s favor.
While the likes of Daniel Cormier have backed Chimaev’s cardio, his only competitive fights in the UFC have pushed this side of his game.
This was always going to be a big focus of his preparations for UFC 319, with a member of his camp recently revealing the lengths they have gone to to truly test ‘Borz’.
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Arman Tsarukyan says Khamzat Chimaev has been ‘breaking everyone’ when facing ten different sparring partners
While there are still so many exciting unanswered questions surrounding Khamzat Chimaev, a fellow UFC star has been able to provide regular insights into his training camp.
Arman Tsarukyan has been part of the middleweight title challenger’s preparations in the United States and has therefore been able to share some details.
Adam Zubayraev has also been alongside Chimaev to document some of the process, with his latest video showing an exchange that he had with Tsarukyan.
Towards the end of the vlog, the UFC lightweight contender was asked about how ‘Borz’ is looking just days out from his first UFC title fight.
Both men then spoke about how Chimaev had just gone ten rounds with different partners.
While it’s not uncommon for elite fighters to be put through this ‘shark tank’ approach by having fresh teammates constantly coming in to test them, Tsarukyan remarked that this hasn’t been an issue for Chimaev.
“Have you seen him? It was just like that. Every single training day, he’s been torturing everyone. Choking and breaking everyone. He’s in good shape and on top of all that, everything is okay with the weight too. No injuries that could distract him. He is healthy, that’s the most important thing. That’s what we need to maintain until the weigh-ins and the fight itself.”
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Khamzat Chimaev clearly agrees with Arman Tsarukyan’s comments on his priorities
Arman Tsarukyan specifically stressed the importance of Khamzat Chimaev being healthy during his preparations and the need to maintain that up to August 16.
This has clearly been an important part of the training camp, with ‘Borz’ recently revealing the steps that he has taken to try and ensure that he will be able to perform to the best of his ability.
Chimaev told ESPN MMA in a recent interview that he has tried to avoid any possibility of illness working its way into the camp.
“I have to be ready, don’t get sick. That’s why I’m just saying to the boys, if we go to the mall, if somebody sick fan comes, maybe we get that sickness, so I have to be careful for that.”
With mere days until one of the biggest fights of the year takes place, fans are sure to have everything crossed for this fight taking place as planned.