Khamzat Chimaev is back and better than ever.
That’s according to No. 1-ranked lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, who just finished filming a season of Hype Reality with Chimaev serving as opposing coach. The program is sort of like a Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).
Watch Tsarukyan and Chimaev come face-to-face for Hype Reality here.
“He looks good, he’s in shape,” Tsarukyan told Submission Radio. “For sure, I believe he’s gonna win [against] Robert Whittaker. After that fight he can fight for the title. He’s gonna be champion for sure.”
He’ll need to whoop Whittaker — then the winner of this upcoming fight.
Fans are likely to remain pessimistic after Chimaev endured another round of medical issues, leading to the cancelation of his Saudi Arabia return last June. In fact, bookies are now taking bets on whether or not “Borz” bails on UFC 308.
We’ll find out on Oct. 26 at “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.