Khamzat Chimaev’s rigorous UFC cardio training has grabbed the attention of fight fans globally as he prepares for his middleweight title fight against Dricus du Plessis. The highly anticipated bout will take place on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago during UFC 319, where Chimaev aims to claim the championship belt.
With the question of stamina under scrutiny, Chimaev’s ability to sustain energy across five rounds has become a focal point of discussion. To enhance his endurance, the undefeated contender has enlisted the help of Sam Calavitta, a renowned conditioning coach who has worked with T.J. Dillashaw. Recently, footage shared by Red Corner MMA showed Chimaev pushing himself to the limit on a cycling machine at The Treigning Lab in Placentia, California.
Fans quickly responded to the training video on social media, expressing excitement and predictions for the upcoming fight. One fan confidently claimed, “He’s gonna smesh Dricus”. Meanwhile, others showed mixed feelings about the countdown timer seen during the training clip, as one said,
“Ngl, that countdown scared me a bit”
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Other supporters debated the fight’s outcome based on the new training dynamic. One fan noted,
“I thought DDP would win by TKO round3 but now that he’s got TJ Dillashaw’s conditioning coach (and maybe some epo too lol) it’s 50-50 for me. cant wait for this sh*t. the UFC is barely promoting”
. Another highlighted the coach’s expertise by stating,
“For those who not privy to this gym, the guy training him trains a bunch of Olympic level wrestlers and Olympic champs. The guy knows exactly the type of cardio Khamzat needs for his style of fighting, and will make sure he has it ready to go”
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Chimaev earned this title shot after a dominant submission victory over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, where he inflicted a broken jaw in the first round, cementing himself as a leading contender.
Insights from Khabib Nurmagomedov on Chimaev’s strategy for UFC 319
Khamzat Chimaev recently received strategic advice from retired UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov during a Russian podcast called Hustle Show. Khabib recommended that Chimaev avoid takedown attempts against Dricus du Plessis and instead focus on striking in a stand-up fight.
Giving tactical reasoning, Nurmagomedov said,
“Personally, I would advise Khamzat [Chimaev] to strike with him. If I were coaching, I would give him different advice. If you put them straight boxing, Khamzat is better. You can try to force things early, but if you don’t finish him, you’ll burn a lot of energy. You’ll need it in the championship rounds. And Khamzat hasn’t been to the championship rounds.”
This guidance highlights the importance of conserving energy for later rounds and underscores Chimaev’s relative inexperience with full five-round championship bouts, a critical factor as he faces du Plessis.
The significance of cardio training in the upcoming heavyweight showdown
Endurance and cardio capacity will likely play a decisive role in the UFC 319 main event, with fans and experts weighing the impact of Chimaev’s new conditioning regimen. Working with a conditioning coach like Sam Calavitta, who has a reputation for training Olympic-level wrestlers, could provide Chimaev with an edge in sustaining pace throughout the fight.
This matchup represents a pivotal moment for Chimaev’s career, testing not only his striking and grappling but also his ability to maintain peak performance over potentially five grueling rounds. The result of this fight will shape the middleweight division’s future and determine whether Chimaev can capture the UFC title in Chicago.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Khamzat Chimaev a millionaire?
A. As of now, Khamzat Chimaev has an estimated net worth of about $3 million. At 30 years old, he is incredibly wealthy and very famous in Russia. The MMA star has won all 14 of his professional matches, with 12 victories achieved quickly.
Q. What illness does Khamzat Chimaev have?
A. At 30 years old, he caught Covid in December 2020 and has faced ongoing symptoms, only fighting four times in four years. Now, Chimaev must also ensure his young son stays healthy, alongside taking care of his own health.
Q. Does Khamzat Chimaev have a disease?
A. The person, who is 30 years old, caught Covid in December 2020. Since then, they’ve struggled with ongoing symptoms and have only fought four times over the past four years.