Khamzat Chimaev has always been known for his explosive starts and smothering pressure, but critics have long cited one potential weakness: his cardio. The narrative has followed him for years: weather the early storm, and then the advantage shifts the other way. With the UFC middleweight title fight against Dricus Du Plessis just days away, Chimaev has made it clear that he intends to take a different strategy to silence that doubt.
‘Borz’ relocated his camp to Los Angeles for UFC 319, where he trained with Calvin Kattar’s team at the Jackson House gym. It wasn’t for star power, but for the perfect environment. Away from crowds and distractions, he worked with a limited group of trusted partners, including close friend Arman Tsarukyan, who recommended the gym, and former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, who connected him with top local instructors.
Now, Khamzat Chimaev believes that being surrounded by elite fighters provides him with the necessary focus and energy to win the fight. ‘Borz’ spoke with Daniel Cormier on his YouTube channel about the new grind. “It’s crazy training. That’s hard work,” he said when asked about the resistance-band sessions on an Airdyne bike. The undefeated fighter further added, “Never done this kind of stuff. So, first time in my life.”
When pressed on whether the change was to fix his perceived cardio issue, Khamzat Chimaev revealed that Tsarukyan sent him to a private training facility in Los Angeles where he could focus without outside eyes. “Speaking with Arman, where is to be good trained, like, you know, privately. And he says he’s in L.A.” T.J. Dillashaw’s input sealed the deal, introducing him to instructors who could push him beyond his boundaries.
The training is reportedly intense, with high-resistance conditioning work, brutal sparring sessions, and a strong emphasis on balancing wrestling pressure with endurance management. Khamzat Chimaev hopes that by working in a controlled, high-level environment, he will be able to maintain his signature aggression throughout a five-round bout.
MMA: UFC 279-Chimaev vs Holland, Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Kevin Holland (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports, 10.09.2022 20:53:50, 19026314, NPStrans, T-Mobile Arena, Holland, Kevin Holland, MMA, TopPic PUBLICATION
All this grind is a strategic shift designed to prove that he’s dangerous not just in the first few minutes, but throughout a title fight. As the title bout approaches, it remains to be seen whether Chimaev’s recalibrated version will translate inside the Octagon. But for now, it seems like ‘Borz’ is barely worrying about the title fight.
Khamzat Chimaev is clearly unfazed about the Dricus Du Plessis fight
Khamzat Chimaev is not ignoring the stakes; he understands that the belt has the potential to change everything. However, his behavior shows that he is not in a hurry to envision himself as a champion or plan future conquests. After months of honing his technique in the gym, he’s now treating the fight week buzz as background noise, refusing to let his thoughts drift to what happens after Saturday night.
Even though fans and oddsmakers have him as the favorite against the defending middleweight champion, ‘Borz’ refuses to entertain “what if” scenarios. Questions about defending the championship, chasing welterweight gold, or even how the fight might unfold get the same calm response: “After the fight, we’ll see what’s going on. Let’s first focus on this guy, and after that, we’ll see.”
It’s this stripped-down concentration that makes him unpredictable, especially against a champion like Dricus Du Plessis, who hasn’t lost in nearly seven years. That quiet also bears the weight of experience. Khamzat Chimaev earned this opportunity by defeating Robert Whittaker in a spectacular first-round submission and overcoming a grueling test against Kamaru Usman.
But with ‘Stillknocks’ coming off victories over Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the path to gold is far from guaranteed. So, Khamzat Chimaev’s approach is straightforward: no fancies or distractions, just the next face in front of him.
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