Tag: Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev’s Former ‘Main Sparring Partner’ Caio Borralho Warns Robert Whittaker: ‘I Didn’t See Any Other Guy In My Life…’

Khamzat Chimaev is set to return to action at UFC 308 where his fight with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has been rescheduled for the co-main event. Despite the fact that he debuted in the UFC four years ago, it still feels like there are so many unanswered questions surrounding the undefeated contender. Chimaev has […]

Continue Reading Khamzat Chimaev’s Former ‘Main Sparring Partner’ Caio Borralho Warns Robert Whittaker: ‘I Didn’t See Any Other Guy In My Life…’ at MMA News.

Khamzat Chimaev is set to return to action at UFC 308 where his fight with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has been rescheduled for the co-main event.

Despite the fact that he debuted in the UFC four years ago, it still feels like there are so many unanswered questions surrounding the undefeated contender.

Chimaev has an element of mystery and myth that still surrounds him, largely thanks to the stories you will hear from the fighters that have trained alongside him.

One of those athletes is the #5-ranked middleweight Caio Borralho who got some work in with Chimaev two years ago.

Caio Borralho Reflects On Experience Training With Khamzat Chimaev In Sweden

Borralho had two main takeaways from the time that he spent training with Chimaev in the past, as he detailed in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

His first major talking point was about the level of wrestling that his fellow middleweight contender brings to the table and how Whittaker will need to be working with the right training partners in order to prepare himself for this.

“I already training with him, spent some time in Sweden with him for his training camp against Nate Diaz, the fight that never happened. I was there training with him every day, was my main sparring partner for this camp and I think it’s a very tough fight for Whittaker ‘cuz Khamzat has very great wrestling and there’s one thing about Khamzat that people don’t realize too much. They don’t know what kind of level to expect from him. Like they know by seeing but when feel it, think it’s a little bit different. This kind of level of wrestling, of grappling, I think the best wrestler in the division is Khamzat and we saw how he dominated Kamaru Usman, that’s a great, great wrestler.”

Along with his wrestling pedigree, the other major characteristic of Chimaev’s approach to MMA has been his intense work ethic.

Borralho gave some insight into this by detailing one particular session where “Borz” continued to work after completing the sparring session for the day.

“He trains a lot, like I didn’t see any other guy in my life that trains as much as he trains. Maybe that’s why sometimes he like kills his body and doesn’t make it to the fight but definitely a guy that over train everyone in the room. There was a time that we did like five rounds sparring and after sparring, he did like three or four rounds of pads and then after that, he did like a 30-minute run and I was like, ‘What the f*** is this guy doing?’”

Read also: MMA Analyst Believes Israel Adesanya Following ‘The Khabib Model’ Might Have Led To Dricus Du Plessis Loss

Continue Reading Khamzat Chimaev’s Former ‘Main Sparring Partner’ Caio Borralho Warns Robert Whittaker: ‘I Didn’t See Any Other Guy In My Life…’ at MMA News.

Caio Borralho names Khamzat Chimaev as the toughest training partner over Sean Strickland

Caio Borralho names Khamzat Chimaev as the toughest training partner over Sean StricklandOff the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC…

Caio Borralho names Khamzat Chimaev as the toughest training partner over Sean Strickland

Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC Vegas 96, surging middleweight threat, Caio Borralho is on a fast track to the championship, however, admits he will have his hands full if he has to face the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev — labelling him his toughest training mate.

Borralho, who managed to scoop himself the number five rank at middleweight this week, turned in an impressive unanimous decision win over former title challenger, Jared Cannonier over the course of five rounds — landing in a headlining bout for the first time since his move to the organization.

Caio Borralho picks Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis: 'Let them kill themselves and I'm next'

Dropping the former title challenger in the final round, Borralho would ride out a unanimous judging victory over the ex-championship chaser, and made his intentions clear to fight the winner of an expected rematch between current champion, Dricus du Plessis, and former champion, Sean Strickland next.

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Caio Borralho heaps praise on Khamzat Chimaev’s ability

However, the Fighting Nerds staple has shared some insight into some of the arduous training regimes he was put through during his time with Xtreme Couture — labeling Chechen star, Chimaev his most challenging partner due to his wrestling ability.

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“Oh dude, for the sure the hardest guy to train [with] is Khamzat (Chimaev),” Caio Borralho told The Schmo. “He’s a very hard guy to train. His style, his wrestling background — he’s very good at wrestling. He goes hard all the rounds. I think he’s one of the hardest training to do.”

“I’ve been training with Sean Strickland, (Chris Curtis), too — very tough guys and hard training,” Caio Borralho explained. “Training with Sean Strickland is very hard, too, because he always pushes forward like screaming at your face. But, I think Khamzat is the guy who is most difficult to train with for sure. But he is the guy that I develop myself most.”

Caio Borralho names Khamzat Chimaev as the toughest training partner over Sean Strickland

Caio Borralho names Khamzat Chimaev as the toughest training partner over Sean StricklandOff the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC…

Caio Borralho names Khamzat Chimaev as the toughest training partner over Sean Strickland

Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC Vegas 96, surging middleweight threat, Caio Borralho is on a fast track to the championship, however, admits he will have his hands full if he has to face the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev — labelling him his toughest training mate.

Borralho, who managed to scoop himself the number five rank at middleweight this week, turned in an impressive unanimous decision win over former title challenger, Jared Cannonier over the course of five rounds — landing in a headlining bout for the first time since his move to the organization.

Caio Borralho picks Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis: 'Let them kill themselves and I'm next'

Dropping the former title challenger in the final round, Borralho would ride out a unanimous judging victory over the ex-championship chaser, and made his intentions clear to fight the winner of an expected rematch between current champion, Dricus du Plessis, and former champion, Sean Strickland next.

gettyimages 2168318244 612x612 1

Caio Borralho heaps praise on Khamzat Chimaev’s ability

However, the Fighting Nerds staple has shared some insight into some of the arduous training regimes he was put through during his time with Xtreme Couture — labeling Chechen star, Chimaev his most challenging partner due to his wrestling ability.

gettyimages 2168317795 612x612 1

“Oh dude, for the sure the hardest guy to train [with] is Khamzat (Chimaev),” Caio Borralho told The Schmo. “He’s a very hard guy to train. His style, his wrestling background — he’s very good at wrestling. He goes hard all the rounds. I think he’s one of the hardest training to do.”

“I’ve been training with Sean Strickland, (Chris Curtis), too — very tough guys and hard training,” Caio Borralho explained. “Training with Sean Strickland is very hard, too, because he always pushes forward like screaming at your face. But, I think Khamzat is the guy who is most difficult to train with for sure. But he is the guy that I develop myself most.”

Robert Whittaker on Chimaev showdown: I’ve had two camps for this guy, I’m at my best’

Robert Whittaker on Chimaev showdown: I’ve had two camps for this guy, I'm at my best'Once more booked to take on the unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev later this year following a failed pairing…

Robert Whittaker on Chimaev showdown: I’ve had two camps for this guy, I'm at my best'

Once more booked to take on the unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev later this year following a failed pairing back in June, former champion, Robert Whittaker is more than confident of defeating the Chechen when they share the Octagon at UFC 308 in two months’ time.

Whittaker, the current number three ranked divisional contender, returned to action back in June in the main event of UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia — sharing the Octagon with the surging prospect, Ikram Aliskerov.

Robert Whittaker offers Dricus du Plessis, Israel Adesanya UFC 305 fight prediction

And recording a stunning first round knockout win over the Russian, Whittaker was initially scheduled to headline the Riyadh card against the undefeated Chimaev, who withdrew from the promotion’s first venture to the region citing a “violent” illness.

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However, rebooked to co-headline UFC 308 at the end of October over the course of five rounds, Whittaker is set to meet Chimaev before an undisputed featherweight title fight — as the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria takes on the streaking former champion, Max Holloway.

Robert Whittaker confident of taking the ‘0’ from Khamzat Chimaev’s record

And weighing up his fight with the Chechen contender, Whittaker insisted he was at his “best” ahead of the matchup — having devoted two separate training camps to the former.

Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov UFC on ABC 6 3

“I’ve essentially had two camps for this guy (Khamzat Chimaev), right?” Robert Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I thnk skill-set-wise, I’m probably at the best I’ve been. I’ve been especially most prepared for Khamzat, theoretically speaking as I could be, right?”

“… You know, you’ve got to worry about how hard he’s going to push the wresting envelope in the first few rounds,” Robert Whittaker explained. “And then, like, what I’m going to do after that, after I stop the takedowns, after I get back up or whatever, and just taking the fight to him.”

Out of action since October of last year, Chimaev most recently landed a controversial majority decision win over former welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman on just days notice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Arman Tsarukyan reflects on Khamzat Chimaev grappling match: ‘Very strong’

Arman Tsarukyan reflects on Khamzat Chimaev grappling match: 'Very strong'Employing the talents on unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev ahead of a planned UFC 308 title fight with Islam…

Arman Tsarukyan reflects on Khamzat Chimaev grappling match: 'Very strong'

Employing the talents on unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev ahead of a planned UFC 308 title fight with Islam Makhachev, surging lightweight challenger, Arman Tsarukyan has described the Chechen as “very strong” after many a grappling showdown.

Tsarukyan, the current number one ranked divisional contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 300 back in April, taking on former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira — fighting the Brazilian in an officially-billed title eliminator.

Arman Tsarukyan reveals talks to take on Islam Makhachev in December title fight at UFC 310
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

And defeating the Sao Paulo finisher over the course of three rounds in a controversial split decision success, Tsarukyan was lined up to tackle Makahchv at the end of October in the main event of UFC 307, the pairing hit the skids with Makhachev sidelined through an unspecified arm injury.

Arman Tsarukyan breaks down training with Khamzat Chimaev

However, sharing the mats with unbeaten middleweight contender, Chimaev ahead of a potential title fight with Makhachev next, the streaking, Tsarukyan has shared some interesting insights into how those sessions played out.

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“Of course I did,” Arman Tsarukyan said when asked if he felt Khamzat Chimaev’s power during their training sessions during an interview with Islam Badadzhanov. “We had a [grappling] match with him. It’ll be part of the [Hype Reality] project. And in addition to the wrestling, I felt his power, too.”

“He is very strong, powerful and he weighs I think about 100 kilograms,” Arman Tsarukyan explained. “He can take you down well, control — [he] breathes well. Such as wrestling work with control and at the same [time], uses grappling very well, especially in chokes. He has two very solid techniques. He chokes from the position — the position that it’s better not to be in.”

chimaev

As for his own return to action, Chimaev is set to co-headline the above-mentioned UFC 308 card later this year — taking on former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker in a rescheduled clash over the course of five rounds.

Arman Tsarukyan reflects on Khamzat Chimaev grappling match: ‘Very strong’

Arman Tsarukyan reflects on Khamzat Chimaev grappling match: 'Very strong'Employing the talents on unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev ahead of a planned UFC 308 title fight with Islam…

Arman Tsarukyan reflects on Khamzat Chimaev grappling match: 'Very strong'

Employing the talents on unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev ahead of a planned UFC 308 title fight with Islam Makhachev, surging lightweight challenger, Arman Tsarukyan has described the Chechen as “very strong” after many a grappling showdown.

Tsarukyan, the current number one ranked divisional contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 300 back in April, taking on former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira — fighting the Brazilian in an officially-billed title eliminator.

Arman Tsarukyan reveals talks to take on Islam Makhachev in December title fight at UFC 310
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

And defeating the Sao Paulo finisher over the course of three rounds in a controversial split decision success, Tsarukyan was lined up to tackle Makahchv at the end of October in the main event of UFC 307, the pairing hit the skids with Makhachev sidelined through an unspecified arm injury.

Arman Tsarukyan breaks down training with Khamzat Chimaev

However, sharing the mats with unbeaten middleweight contender, Chimaev ahead of a potential title fight with Makhachev next, the streaking, Tsarukyan has shared some interesting insights into how those sessions played out.

gettyimages 1748811224 612x612 1

“Of course I did,” Arman Tsarukyan said when asked if he felt Khamzat Chimaev’s power during their training sessions during an interview with Islam Badadzhanov. “We had a [grappling] match with him. It’ll be part of the [Hype Reality] project. And in addition to the wrestling, I felt his power, too.”

“He is very strong, powerful and he weighs I think about 100 kilograms,” Arman Tsarukyan explained. “He can take you down well, control — [he] breathes well. Such as wrestling work with control and at the same [time], uses grappling very well, especially in chokes. He has two very solid techniques. He chokes from the position — the position that it’s better not to be in.”

chimaev

As for his own return to action, Chimaev is set to co-headline the above-mentioned UFC 308 card later this year — taking on former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker in a rescheduled clash over the course of five rounds.