Khamzat Chimaev recently shared his views on several UFC fighters. Borz ranked Jon Jones as the highest in the sport while giving a surprisingly low rating to ex-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. Chimaev lauded Jones, calling him one of the greatest fighters due to his dominance, versatility, and long-standing success across multiple eras in the UFC.
He also rated Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Shavkat Rakhmonov as fairly average-difficulty fights. Surprisingly, he gave a lower rating of just 3 to 4 for Robert Whittaker, hinting it was an easy fight for the Chechen. Moreover, Chimaev’s dismissal of Edwards as an easy fight surprised many.
Maybe 2-3 (out of 10). That should be easy. Smash his face, man.
Khamzat Chimaev via Riadhlevrai TikTok
Khamzat Chimaev rates fighters from 1-10, 1 being an easy fight and 10 being a difficult fight:
Sean Strickland = 5
Israel Adesanya = 5 to 6
Robert Whittaker = 3 to 4
Leon Edwards = 2 to 3
Shavkat Rakhmonov = 5
Jon Jones = 9🎥 TikTok / Riadhlevrai #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/1hThY32a1X
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 22, 2024
Especially, considering Edwards’ accomplishments, such as securing the UFC welterweight title and delivering consistently strong performances. This monumental difference in Chimaev’s ratings comes after the UFC tried and failed to pair them thrice during and after the pandemic. Unfortunately, the effects of COVID-19 on the fighters prevented them from making this hyped matchup a reality.
Despite Edwards’s eventual champion status, Chimaev seemed unimpressed. He believed that the Brits’ achievements, despite his victories over elite fighters like Kamaru Usman, were less noteworthy in comparison to others in the division. Currently, Chimaev is gearing up for his next fight at middleweight as he takes on The Reaper at UFC 308. Whereas, Edwards is recovering from his title loss to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.
Khamzat Chimaev rejoins with old coach before Robert Whittaker fight at UFC 308
The Chechen is expected to return to action against Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. The duo were initially booked to fight at the main event in Saudi Arabia. However, Chimaev pulled out of the contest due to an illness. He was then replaced by Ikram Aliskerov, who lost via TKO against The Reaper. Borz has competed only twice since April 2022 and plans to change his streak of inactivity.
Now Chimaev has reconnected with his original wrestling coach to reestablish himself as championship material. They have revamped his training regimen ahead of his anticipated fight against Whittaker. Previously, the undefeated Chechen faced challenges during fight camps, including hospitalization due to overtraining.
Additionally, he has struggled with cardio issues, particularly in the later rounds of his fights. By changing his approach, he aims to address these weaknesses and return stronger to the octagon.
They now let me rest and recover properly. I used to go to the gym and just train until I was done. But, then I ended up in the hospital like the last time when I was in hospital three times in a row within three weeks. My immune system went down, I got sick. Now, I use a better approach. I work with good coaches, raised a lot of world champions. I am going to take a big step forward.
Khamzat Chimaev via Hustle Vlog Youtube
Khamzat Chimaev @KChimaev has reunited with his first wrestling coach and completely changed his training approach ahead of his long-awaited return to the octagon against Rob Whittaker.
Will we see the new version of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in Saudi Arabia – the Healthy Borz… pic.twitter.com/hrDMDqe4gB
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 18, 2024
Given Chimaev’s recurring health issues, it’s understandable why the UFC is hesitant to grant him a title shot. Additionally, his travel restrictions complicate matters further. His close association with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has resulted in limitations on his ability to enter North America. This adds another obstacle to his participation in high-profile fights and potential title contention in the UFC.
