Khamzat Chimaev is able to re-establish his credentials to be the following challenger to Dricus du Plessis’ UFC middleweight title.
The undefeated Chimaev, now 30, exploded onto the UFC scene on ‘Battle Island’ in the summertime of 2020, profitable three bouts in two weight courses in his first two months on the roster — together with two wins in simply 10 days through the UFC’s Covid-impacted schedule that 12 months.
Within the following 4 years, Chimaev’s influence has slowed considerably as he has fought simply 4 occasions since September 2020 and was most lately seen final October in a majority resolution win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in what was Chimaev’s first formal bout within the UFC’s middleweight division.
Chimaev’s relative inactivity has been blamed on a lot of elements: he was severely influence by a Covid-19 an infection which eliminated his capacity to coach and compete and, based on reviews, practically led to his retirement. Equally, he has additionally blamed overtraining as impacting his momentum — a difficulty which he says is now resolved.
At UFC 308, which is able to happen in Abu Dhabi on October twenty sixth, Chimaev will tackle arguably the sternest take a look at of his profession when he fights the previous 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker, with the winner set to face alongside Sean Strickland because the probably subsequent title challenger.
And judging by the video footage which you’ll be able to see above Chimaev, who is thought for his world class grappling expertise, has additionally been placing in some appreciable time to enhance his stand-up expertise. However will or not it’s sufficient to get previous Whittaker, whose solely losses in practically 11 years have come in opposition to former and present champions Israel Adesanya and Du Plessis? We discover out subsequent week.
