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VIDEO: Topuria, Holloway, Chimaev & More Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of UFC 308

The top stars set to be in action at UFC 308 this weekend took to the stage on Wednesday for the open workouts. Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Abu Dhabi for the second time this year, returning to the Middle East two months on from the Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov-headlined UFC […]

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The top stars set to be in action at UFC 308 this weekend took to the stage on Wednesday for the open workouts.

Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Abu Dhabi for the second time this year, returning to the Middle East two months on from the Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov-headlined UFC Fight Night event in August.

Unlike that card, this occasion sees gold on the line. Championship stakes on Oct. 26 will come at featherweight, with reigning kingpin Ilia Topuria putting his belt on the line for the first time against legendary fan favorite Max Holloway.

Before “El Matador” looks to cement his grip on the 145-pound crown, former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker will look to bring himself back into a title matchup by blemishing the perfect record of Khamzat Chimaev.

Elsewhere on the main card, Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Raki? collide for the likely right to challenge Alex Pereira, Dan Ige becomes the latest looking to take Lerone Murphy’s ‘O’, and Shara Magomedov keeps up his high level of activity inside the Octagon.

The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, October 26, 2024. The main card begins at 2 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 10 AM ET.

Ahead of it, a number of UFC 308 fighters appeared for the open workouts at the Yas Mall in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Check out a highlights package posted by the UFC on X below:

Read More: Ilia Topuria Refutes Max Holloway’s Best Boxer Claim Ahead Of UFC 308

Continue Reading VIDEO: Topuria, Holloway, Chimaev & More Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of UFC 308 at MMA News.

Respect and Rivalry: Khamzat Chimaev’s Admiration for Usman as He Gears Up for Whittaker Showdown

Respect and Rivalry: Khamzat Chimaev's Admiration for Usman as He Gears Up for Whittaker Showdown Khamzat Chimaev has nothing but respect for Kamaru Usman. On Saturday, ‘Borz’ will return to the Octagon for the…

Khamzat Chimaev has nothing but respect for Kamaru Usman.

On Saturday, ‘Borz’ will return to the Octagon for the first time in a year when he meets Robert Whittaker in a potential middleweight title eliminator at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

The fight will come almost exactly one year to the day that Chimaev last fought. That came at UFC 294 when he went toe-to-toe with former welterweight world champion Kamaru Usman. Borz’ came out on top via a majority decision, moving to 13-0 in his mixed martial arts career while handing ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ his third-straight loss inside the Octagon.

Ahead of this weekend’s high-stakes scrap with ‘The Reaper’ at Etihad Arena, Chimaev offered his honest thoughts on Usman, calling him one of the best fighters he’s ever had the privilege of competing against.

“A lot of different things, makes a different mindset and a lot of good things,” Chimaev told Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports. “Kamaru is one of the best guys who I’ve faced. He’s been No.1 pound-for-pound. Robert [Whittaker] hasn’t been there yet. Me too.

“People forget who was Kamaru Usman. When I beat him, everyone was talking about he’s not that good and this that, but that guy is crazy good, man. If I take somebody’s back like I took his — he has a champion’s mindset. He didn’t give [up]. He had five minutes where he defended his neck, but this is not that easy.”

Usman backs khamzat chimaev to come out on top against Robert Whittaker

Having gone three hard-fought rounds with the undefeated Chechen monster, it should come as no surprise that Usman is backing Chimaev to come out on top against Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event.

“I don’t think you’re too harsh. I think a lot of casual fans feel the same way that you feel,” Usman said on his Pound-4-Pound podcast. “And Robert Whittaker is a guy that can grapple, or stop you from grappling, a guy that can put together the combinations that potentially get you out of there. I think Khamzat Chimaev is just special. If he is able to get his hands on you and drag you down to the ground, I think he is able to impose his will down there and potentially get that finish…

“Let me just keep it short… I love Robert Whittaker. I think Robert Whittaker is super talented, especially what he just went out there and did in disposing of Ikram. But if I had to choose, I’m gonna go with Khamzat Chimaev.”

Khamzat Chimaev Will Drop to Welterweight Again—On One Condition: “I’ve Beaten Everyone”

Borz’ Khamzat Chimaev has been jumping between welterweight and middleweight during his UFC tenure. Currently, he is most active…

Borz’ Khamzat Chimaev has been jumping between welterweight and middleweight during his UFC tenure. Currently, he is most active in the middleweight division but has not yet closed the door on a return to welterweight. At UFC 308, this weekend, he will face former world champion Robert Whittaker.

Khamzat Chimaev Weight

The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev made a huge splash when he entered the UFC. His first four matches were all won by quick KO/TKO. Most impressively, ‘Borz‘ won a match at just 0:17 in the first round. During that period, he set the record for the fastest three-fight winning streak in modern UFC history at just 66 days.

In the UFC, Khamzat Chimaev continues to jump in between welterweight and middleweight however 185 may be his future home as he struggled to make 170 in 2022. His next match is at middleweight against the former titleholder Robert Whittaker. This October 26 fight would likely put the winner into title contention.

gettyimages 1422282652 612x612 1 — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 09: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia poses on the scale during the UFC 279 official weigh-in at UFC APEX on September 09, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Khamzat Chimaev to Welterweight

On whether he plans on moving back to welterweight in the future, speaking with Kevin Iole, he said:

“If they give [me a fight] for the title, yes. Why not? I mean, I beat everyone there so just give me the title [shot] then I’ll go down there. I don’t know. They have different plans everyday so we will see what they will give to me.”

Khamzat Chimaev is looking to capture UFC gold in the middleweight division. If he defeats ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker in Abu Dhabi this weekend he is certainly in the title conversation. Currently, the title is held by South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis and the next title contender will likely be Sean Strickland. ‘Borz’ is looking to get into the mix.

gettyimages 1748842116 612x612 1 — ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 21: (L-R) Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates and Kamaru Usman of Nigeria talk after their middleweight fight during the UFC 294 event at Etihad Arena on October 21, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Chael Sonnen ‘Not Sold’ On Khamzat Chimaev’s Size As A UFC Middleweight

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen isn’t sure that Khamzat Chimaev is currently competing in the ideal weight class. Chimaev is days out from likely the biggest fight of his career, as he gears up to do battle with former middleweight champion and #3-ranked contender Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event. The five-rounder […]

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Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen isn’t sure that Khamzat Chimaev is currently competing in the ideal weight class.

Chimaev is days out from likely the biggest fight of his career, as he gears up to do battle with former middleweight champion and #3-ranked contender Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event.

The five-rounder in Abu Dhabi marks the undefeated fighter’s first outing in over a year. That’s after numerous illnesses and injuries kept him out following a win over Kamaru Usman in his return to 185 pounds.

“Borz” went back up in weight after a debacle on the scale that saw him come in well over the welterweight limit for a subsequently canceled 2022 pay-per-view headliner against Nate Diaz.

While many welcomed that change and believe the door is now shut on a 170-pound future for the Chechen star, Sonnen sees things differently, as he explained during a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel.

Sonnen touched on the coaching change Chimaev has made to his camp, which he believes will be nothing but beneficial. But “The American Gangster” remains unsure if “Borz” can overcome what he sees as a size disadvantage in the middleweight division.

“If Chimaev is returning to the coach he had when he was 17, you’re going to see one of the best versions of Chimaev that you’ve seen before,” Sonnen said. “But that’s still Robert effing Whittaker. He will beat your ass. He will keep you on your feet and he will begin to bludgeon you.

“I’m also not sold on Chimaev’s size. I know some of you are. You’re saying that he’s pulling pretty hard to get down to 185 and 170 is long behind him. I’m getting other information, and I do know that he considered a title fight all the way at 170 (recently),” Sonnen continued. “I’m just not sold on how big he is at 185. I know how big Whittaker is at 185. I supported the concept of Whittaker going up to 205.”

In his last outing, Chimaev emerged victorious from a 185-pound contest. He was, however, facing a former welterweight champ in Usman who was making his debut in the division.

With that in mind, plenty of questions still surround his prospects of finding success in the higher weight class. And given the level of competition he’s set to face at UFC 308 this Saturday, it stands to reason that they will be answered soon enough.

Read More: Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Be ‘Out Of His League’ Against Robert Whittaker

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“Violently Ill” Khamzat Chimaev Opens Up About Hospitalization Before UFC 308

Khamzat Chimaev was hospitalized with an illness ahead of his scheduled bout against Robert Whittaker in June, which has…

Khamzat Chimaev was hospitalized with an illness ahead of his scheduled bout against Robert Whittaker in June, which has not been rescheduled to UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 26. ‘Borz’ opens up about his prior sickness.

Khamzat Chimaev Illness

Sporting an unblemished career record of 13-0, Khamzat Chimaev was one of the hottest prospects in the sport as he quickly racked up TKO wins in the UFC. With weight misses and cancellations due to injuries or illness, fans are now beginning to ask more questions about his future.

Khamzat Chimaev 'Triggered' by comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov

Since making his UFC debut in 2020, he has had seven bouts completed but has had thirteen fights scheduled in that time. He has been forced to withdraw from six fights in the promotion for various reasons. The most recent, in June, was an illness where he was hospitalized.

Ahead of his June matchup against he former champion Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev pulled out and the fight was booked for later in the year. Leading up to UFC 308 this weekend, ‘Borz’ explained what happened in an episode of UFC Countdown. He said:

“We were in training camp. The first month was very good. The last three weeks, my immunity goes down. I don’t know what happened. All the guys ate the same food, (but) only (I) got sick. I was in the hospital for a couple of days. I came out and started to train again and the same sh*t happened again. The doctor said to me, ‘You need to just be off from the gym and not just training, not doing nothing.’ I went home to the mountains.” [Ht MMA Junkie]

Khamzat Chimaev started his career in the UFC in the welterweight but has since moved up to middleweight. At UFC 308, ‘Borz‘ will face his biggest test as he meets the former division world champion ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker. This fight has title implications and goes down on October 26.

Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Be ‘Out Of His League’ Against Robert Whittaker

Despite having fought seven times inside the Octagon, the potential of Khamzat Chimaev still has some question marks hanging over it. Listen to anyone that trains with the middleweight contender and they will tell you that he’s the champion in waiting. However, his recent performances and issues with staying active have significantly pumped the breaks […]

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Be ‘Out Of His League’ Against Robert Whittaker at MMA News.

However, his recent performances and issues with staying active have significantly pumped the breaks on what was once the biggest hype train in the entire sport.

We will find out this weekend at UFC 308 where Chimaev ranks amongst the rest of the middleweight division when he faces former champion Robert Whittaker. “The Reaper” has fought many of the top contenders and has only lost at 185-pounds to two champions in Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis.

Even in a win that looks great on paper over Kamaru Usman last time out, there was some doubters due to how close the fight was despite Usman stepping up a weight class as a short notice replacement for Paulo Costa. This won’t be the same for a victory against someone that is as highly regarded and proven as Whittaker.

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser weighed in with his thoughts on the fight. Having spent time preparing his fighter to face Whittaker in the past, he knows how good the former champion is.

He believes that Whittaker won’t just get the win on Saturday night, he will show that Chimaev isn’t ready to compete with the best guys in the weight class.

“That fight against Usman, who’s a genuine welterweight, was way too close for me. His stand-up is, in my opinion, suspect. His wrestling, he couldn’t do anything with Usman and Rob’s stand-up is phenomenal, his wrestling and his ground work’s awesome so I honestly think Khamzat’s out of his league here. He’s gotta go back to welter where he maybe stands a chance to become something or become a champion. At this stage, I honestly think Rob beats Khamzat and I don’t think it’s gonna be on points, he’s going to grind him. Rob’s a tough dude and he’s smart and he’s got a smart team behind him.”

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Be ‘Out Of His League’ Against Robert Whittaker at MMA News.