While focused on his own upcoming championship fight, Khamzat Chimaev has played the role of matchmaker for another UFC division’s title picture.
Chimaev recently hit the scales for UFC 319 and made his long-awaited first title shot in the promotion official, five years after announcing his arrival with two wins in record-breaking time.
The path to the gold has been far from simple for ‘Borz’, but he will look to make the wait worth it in Saturday’s main event, which will see Chimaev challenge Dricus du Plessis at Chicago’s United Center.
But ahead of the much-awaited clash of top middleweights who are undefeated in the UFC, Chimaev recently looked at the title picture in a different division, which involves a man whom the Chechen star has gotten close to in recent weeks…
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Khamzat Chimaev wants UFC to book Ilia Topuria vs Arman Tsarukyan
One of Chimaev’s recent training partners has found himself in a tricky situation as of late.
Arman Tsarukyan’s late withdrawal from UFC 311 left the promotion scrambling for a new main event matchup and challenger for Islam Makhachev, and cost the Russian-Armenian his earned title shot.
The top lightweight contender made weight as the backup fighter for UFC 317’s main event, which concluded with Ilia Topuria knocking out Charles Oliveira to become champion at 155 pounds. Since then, Tsarukyan has frequently had his claim to the next shot rejected by the new titleholder.
But while ‘El Matador’ is instead looking at either Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett for his first lightweight title defense, Chimaev insists the right opponent is ‘Akhalkalakets’.
“I hope so,” Chimaev told the Jaxxon Podcast YouTube channel when asked if he envisions Topuria and Tsarukyan facing off in 2025.
“It is a good fight for both guys. If you ask me, we need to know who is the best fighter in the world.
“Both guys are the best fighters,” Chimaev continued. “So I will be happy to watch that fight. It’s a crazy fight.
“Arman has good moves and he has good kicks, good wrestling. The other guy (Topuria) has good jiu-jitsu, good (punches), you know? So it would be cool to watch that fight.”
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Arman Tsarukyan has helped Khamzat Chimaev prepare for UFC 319
Having previously trained with Topuria in Sweden, the UFC 319 title challenger has more recently become familiar with Tsarukyan’s talents and work behind the scenes.
Tsarukyan has been helping Chimaev in the latter portion of his camp for Saturday’s highly anticipated clash in Chicago.
The top lightweight contender has therefore had strong insight into the Chechen star’s preparation, and Tsarukyan addressed one of the biggest Chimaev questions that fans have had in the lead-up to the August 16 PPV.
Has his cardio improved?
“In this camp, Khamzat has improved his recovery ability, and strength and conditioning,” Tsarukyan told Kamil Gadzhiev (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.”