Khamzat Chimaev trains with Olympic gold medalist ahead of UFC 308
Khamzat Chimaev is ramping up his preparation for his highly anticipated matchup against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, scheduled for October 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This bout marks a crucial moment for Chimaev, who seeks to regain momentum after multiple periods of inactivity. His fight against Whittaker will take place on the undercard of the headliner between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway, making UFC 308 a must-watch event.
New Training Partner: Olympic Champion Razambek Zhamalov
In a bid to sharpen his wrestling and overall fight readiness, Chimaev has enlisted the help of Razambek Zhamalov, who secured gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 74kg category. This addition to his camp could play a pivotal role as Chimaev prepares for one of the toughest challenges in his career, facing Whittaker, who boasts an impressive record and has only fallen to elite competition like Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis.
Zhamalov’s presence reflects Chimaev’s ambition to elevate his training to a new level, especially given his goal of earning a middleweight title shot soon. According to Chimaev, working with Zhamalov adds a critical edge to his grappling game, which is already one of his strongest weapons in the octagon.
Visa detta inlägg på Instagram
TRENDING:
- Max Holloway Relives Knockout Victory at UFC 300
- Robert Whittaker Shares His Thoughts Before Khamzat Chimaev Fight
- Backup Fighter Diego Lopes Shares His Ideal Opponent at UFC 308
Khamzat Chimaev wrestling with 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist Razambek Zhamalov 🤼#UFC #MMA #UFC308
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 16, 2024
Focus on Training and Recovery
Chimaev has also made notable changes to his training regime ahead of UFC 308. Learning from past experiences where overtraining led to health issues and hospitalizations, the 30-year-old fighter has now emphasized the importance of rest and recovery. He credits his improved approach to Salim Noutsalkhanov, his original wrestling coach, who is known for mentoring champions like three-time Olympic gold medalist Buvaisar Saitiev. This shift could be key to his sustained performance, as Chimaev seeks to avoid past mistakes that affected his health and preparation.
A Tough Opponent in Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker enters the fight with more experience and a recent strong performance against Ikram Aliskerov. The Australian has been a dominant figure in the middleweight division, with only top-tier losses in recent years. Chimaev’s fight plan will likely revolve around using his wrestling, combined with the strategic insights he gains from training with Zhamalov, to overcome Whittaker’s striking and experience.
Chimaev’s fans have eagerly followed his training updates on social media, with the fighter sharing videos of intense grappling sessions with Zhamalov. As the bout approaches, it is clear that both fighters are readying themselves for what could be a career-defining match for “Borz”.
For more updates and fight details, visit MMAnytt.se
