Khamzat Chimaev is that close to returning to fight Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event on Saturday. This is the second time the Chechen ‘Borz’ has found a booking against the Aussie. Now that Chimaev is locking in for the weekend, media availability snippets found a more in-shape fighter of the old. Imparting to that is his time with Arman Tsarukyan.
Before Saturday’s UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) co-main event at Etihad Arena, Chimaev was in for the UFC Saudi Arabia main event. However, he fell “violently ill” before having to withdraw against Whittaker in June. In the meantime, Chimaev filmed a season of ‘Hype Reality‘ with No. 1-ranked lightweight contender Tsarukyan. Now, fight week snaps see both of them together again.
This season of the ‘Hype Reality 3‘ is basically a Russian iteration of “The Ultimate Fighter“. In a dynamic that could have seen Conor McGregor–Michael Chandler as co-coaches had they not fallen apart on fight dreams, the duo now train together often. In light of the ‘violent illness’, Arman Tsarukyan even told Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Network (@SubmissionRadio) that Chimaev is in shape and will take care of the ‘Reaper’.
A year in the making… #UFC308@KChimaev is BACK!@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/DO4HSQe31n
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 22, 2024
‘Ahalkalakets’ is currently serving a one-year NYSAC-imposed suspension and is the top seed to face champion Islam Makhachev. While the 155-pound champ is on the bench for a minimal hand injury of his own, Tsarukyan is even employing the Chechen to up his game. ‘Borz’ will need all the help he can get as well. Come this Saturday, all the brakes are off.
Khamzat Chimaev breaks down ‘immunity’ issues that tanked Robert Whittaker fight
Undefeated Chimaev hasn’t fought since he edged out former Pound-for-pound Kamaru Usman. This was for a 185 drop at UFC 294 last October. His fight with Robert Whittaker is seeing the dub as a No. 1 contender bout. As such there’s a whole lot of anticipation for the return event.
However, Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been quite an unreliable billing these days. So much so that open betting lines for UFC 308 pay-per-view (PPV) card had him at a -140 favorite to pull out. Per BetOnline.ag, lines opened with Khamzat Chimaev at -225, and Whittaker at +190. Chimaev recently opened up about what happened that made the fight go up in smoke again.
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 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.’
Khamzat Chimaev during UFC 308 ‘Countdown’ Segment – Whittaker vs Chimaev; transcribed by Farah Hannoun (🎥: @ufc on YT)
Whittaker faced Ikram Aliskerov instead, at UFC on ABC 6 in Riyadh. The first-frame knockout has only increased his stock and even touted his opportunities further on the line. Current 185-champ Dricus Du Plessis is even favoring his chances at a title redemption. Hence he is that much closer to a promised title as much as Chimaev. The Team Allstars Training Center’s ‘Borz’ says he has incorporated some camp changes in preparation. As such he’ll be ready for it.
