Daniel Cormier believes Khamzat Chimaev may be very heavy proper now and will battle to get again all the way down to 185 kilos for the primary protection of his UFC middleweight championship.
The Chechen-born Emirati is rumored to face Nassourdine Imavov subsequent. He’s at present recovering from a minor foot harm and is predicted to enter the octagon after Ramadan.
Current coaching footage reveals “Borz” putting with Khalil Rountree Jr. and Luke Rockhold.
“DC” satisfied Khamzat Chimaev is a 205-pounder already
Though Daniel Cormier initially doubted that Khamzat Chimaev may very well be efficient at 205 kilos, the brand new coaching clips have satisfied “DC” that “Borz” has all of the instruments and physicality to compete within the UFC mild heavyweight division.
In a recent YouTube video on his channel, Cormier stated:
“When Khamzat Chimaev began expressing curiosity in preventing at 205 [pounds], I used to be a bit hesitant as a result of it wasn’t that way back he was preventing at 170… I assumed if Khamzat has to battle at 205, he could be operating up in opposition to guys that may be simply too huge for him, and in some unspecified time in the future, that has to turn out to be a difficulty.”
Nonetheless, after watching Chimaev spar with “The Struggle Horse” and Rockhold, “DC” is satisfied the previous “seems to be like a monster at over 200 kilos.” He added:
Then I noticed a video of him sparring with Khalil Rountree. His again seemed large. He seems to be like a 205-pound fighter already. After which I watched a video of him sparring with Luke Rockhold, who’s all of 6’4″ and 227 kilos proper now. I’m not speaking in regards to the talent stage of Rockhold right now. I’m speaking in regards to the dimension of Rockhold right now. Khamzat Chimaev seems to be simply as huge, if not larger.”
The UFC Corridor of Famer is satisfied that Chimaev can battle and discover success at 205 kilos:
“Then if you watch the movies, you watch the sparring; you watch him and Khalil Rountree Jr. putting… I’m not an untrained eye. It seems to be to me like Khamzat is successful the putting in opposition to Khalil Rountree, who’s an incredible striker. I’m watching him kick with Luke, and he’s kicking with the identical energy as Luke. I’ve to be trustworthy, guys. I don’t know that this child couldn’t battle at 205 kilos. I actually do consider that he’s in a position to battle on this weight class.”
Daniel Cormier additionally believes Khamzat Chimaev nonetheless has unfinished enterprise at middleweight. Nonetheless, if he strikes up and locks horns with UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, he may pose severe issues for “Poatan,” who lacks a wrestling background and will doubtlessly be ragdolled by “Borz.
In the identical video, Cormier additionally added that Khamzat Chimaev may battle to get again all the way down to 185 kilos for the potential Imavov bout.
“I’d think about that Khamzat is right here in america getting ready for that battle with Imavov. That will be my guess if I have been, uh, enthusiastic about what’s subsequent. However the actuality is one: how troublesome is it going to be for him to get again all the way down to 185? As a result of I’m telling you, he seems to be large subsequent to Rountree. Two, how will he compete when he’s again down there? And three, how does Imavov cope with the dimensions of Khamzat Chimaev at this level?”
“Chimaev seems to be like the larger man. He seems to be just like the a lot larger fighter now. I’m telling you, you guys have to observe have to observe that coaching footage. He seems to be like a monster at over 200 kilos.”
Try Daniel Cormier’s feedback about Khamzat Chimaev under (1:04):
