Khamzat Chimaev details training sessions with Sean Strickland as he looks to snatch away his middleweight title shot
Khamzat Chimaev has traveled around the world and trained with several different teams and fighters in his pursuit of becoming an undisputed UFC champion.
Khamzat Chimaevâs MMA journey began in Sweden where he began training at Allstar Training Center in Stockholm, with the likes of former UFC title challenger, Alexander Gustafsson and Ilir Latifi.
Once âBorzâ became a formidable force in the cage and found his way into the UFC, he then began to visit different gyms to sharpen his game.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCKhamzat Chimaev details training with Sean Strickland as he looks to snatch his title shot As well as training regularly with former UFC star, Darren Till, Chimaev has detailed previous training sessions with former middleweight champion and now division rival, Sean Strickland.
Despite Chimaev being set to take on Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 this coming Saturday, even with a win over âThe Reaperâ he may not find himself as the fighter to challenge Dricus Du Plessis.
UFC CEO Dana White recently revealed that the promotion is planning on having Du Plessis rematch Strickland in February 2025, delaying Chimaevâs title charge.
However, ahead of the biggest fight of his career thus far, âBorzâ has detailed how sparring sessions used to go against Strickland.
âI think now itâs going good for Du Plessis, I think heâs more motivated getting more money and heâs happy with that so he will fight for his belt, Sean being there, I donât think he cares about if he wins or loses he just fights and has money,â Chimaev told Michael Bisping.
âWe sparred with (Strickland) and trained with him so I donât know, weâve been good when weâve been in the gym but when I go back to Sweden he starts to tweet and do some things, he didnât like when I said I tap him out⊠(Yeah I tapped him out) many times, chokes, different things, you know.
âHeâs good, his strength is good, heâs a good fighter but, heâs a tough guy, tough dude but I said what everyone seeâs in the gym so, thatâs it,â Chimaev continued.
MENTAL STRUGGLES: âI am human tooâ⊠Khamzat Chimaev opens up about suffering mental health problems because of recent career setbacksChimaev wants to fight for a title at any weight class with a win at UFC 308Since his emergence in the UFC in 2020, the 30-year-old has fluttered between both 170lbs and 185lbs, with his recent move up to middleweight seemingly being something the UFC advised following continuous weight misses.
Having said that, with him likely not getting the next middleweight title shot, even with a win over Whittaker, âBorzâ has claimed that he would move back down to welterweight to fight for the title, or even move up to light heavyweight to take on Alex Pereira.
Current champion, Belal Muhammad is scheduled to make the first defense of his title at UFC 310 when he takes on Shavkat Rakhmonov.
âI want to fight for the title, it doesnât matter which weight class, Shavkat and this guy (Muhammad) are gonna fight for the title and then Du Plessis is gonna fight for the title, Alex (Pereira) is gonna fight with somebody, I donât know.
âOf course, Iâve always been open (to fighting Pereira) so I know stylistically this match for me is much easier than other guys. In striking Iâm honest, I know the guy can knock me out⊠But Iâm one of the best grapplers and wrestlers,â Chimaev flirted at the idea of a fight against Alex Pereira.
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