Chael Sonnen on Khamzat Chimaev: “He Did Everything Wrong”
Sonnen Questions Chimaev’s Wrestling Technique
Chael Sonnen recently analyzed Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling skills following his unorthodox approach against Robert Whittaker. Sonnen highlighted Chimaev’s raw effectiveness and questioned whether he or NCAA champion Bo Nickal has the most impactful MMA wrestling. While typically uninterested in statistics, Sonnen explained he wanted to analyze Chimaev’s technique to understand how wrestling transitions into the Octagon.
“Whittaker is incredibly hard to take down,” Sonnen stated, citing Whittaker’s history of stopping elite wrestlers like Yoel Romero. Despite Chimaev’s unusual approach, Sonnen admitted that “You have to do everything right to take him down; Chimaev did everything wrong.”
Sonnen added that Chimaev’s method succeeded despite conventional wisdom, which made the feat especially impressive.
Comparing Chimaev and Nickal: Style and Credentials
Sonnen considers a Chimaev vs. Nickal matchup compelling because of their contrasting wrestling styles. While Nickal trains with Olympians and has a polished wrestling resume, Sonnen explained that Chimaev’s MMA adaptability sets him apart.
“Who is more likely to train with Olympic athletes? That’s Bo Nickal,” Sonnen noted, acknowledging Nickal’s undeniable skills.
However, in the MMA arena, Sonnen asserted that raw efficiency often outweighs technique alone, placing Chimaev’s approach in a unique spotlight.
“Looking purely at effectiveness in MMA wrestling,” Sonnen remarked, “I haven’t seen anything from Chimaev that disqualifies him from the conversation as the best MMA wrestler in his weight class.”
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Sonnen’s Unique Perspective on Chimaev’s Style
Sonnen marveled at Chimaev’s unusual takedown approach from a considerable distance without gripping for leverage—usually essential in wrestling.
“It was very impressive,” Sonnen said, adding, “I saw it and immediately wondered how he did it.” Sonnen explained, “The fact is, you can’t take someone down unless you have a grip where they’re wearing fabric. But Chimaev did it, and he was too far out. What he did was drive through his opponent.”
For Sonnen, Chimaev’s unorthodox yet effective technique reinforces his place in the top ranks of middleweight MMA wrestlers. This unconventional approach, Sonnen suggested, may ultimately make Chimaev an even more formidable competitor in the division.
Source: MMAnytt.se
