WATCH: Khamzat Chimaev looks massive pummeling down sparring partner at Tiger Muay Thai
Khamzat Chimaev has long been touted to move up to middleweight, and it seems the Chechen-born Swede is looking to join the 185-pound division. 'Borz' has been training at the Tiger Muay Thai facility in Thailand, and videos show him looking bigger than the average welterweight as he beats down a sparring partner.
In a recent video posted by Spinnin Backfist on Twitter, the 28-year-old participated in an intense training session with fast-rising UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev in the foreground. Chimaev's physical dominance over his partner seems to be a matter of fascination for his training mates as they record the session. The video has a text box that says:
"PPV [pay-per-view] rounds from Khamzat Chimaev in Thailand."
The video tweeted out is captioned:
"Ain't no way he makes 170 [pounds] again."
Check out the tweet below:
ain’t no way he makes 170 again https://t.co/jB9W76eMbg
Khamzat Chimaev has justly been labeled one of the best grapplers in the promotion and has won the national Swedish wrestling championship three times. The undefeated fighter has mauled several of his previous UFC opponents and has secured a finish over all his opponents except for Gilbert Burns, with whom he went the distance at UFC 273.
Chimaev is yet to get booked for a fight this year, and only time will tell who 'Borz' will face next.
Darren Till believes Khamzat Chimaev would "maul" Alex Pereira
Khamzat Chimaev has publicly expressed his intention to take on Alex Pereira since 'Poatan' secured a shocking knockout victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 last year. While 'Borz' has fought in the 185-pound division in the past, there has been much discussion about him possibly making a move up permanently.
However, his teammate and Darren Till, one-half of the 'Smesh Bros', believes Chimaev will easily defeat Pereira if they face each other in the octagon. The Englishman recently weighed in on the potential matchup and had complete faith in his friend to finish the middleweight champion within a minute.
In a recent interview with Seconds Out, Till gave his take on a potential Chimaev vs. Pereira contest and stated:
"Khamzat will maul him, it'd be a 30-second fight. Khamzat would maul him."
Watch the full video below:
'Borz' last appeared at UFC 279 in September last year against Kevin Holland after missing weight by over seven pounds and having his original matchup against Nate Diaz reshuffled.
With 'Poatan' scheduled to rematch 'The Last Stylebender' at UFC 287 in April, it remains to be seen if Chimaev gets his shot at the middleweight crown this year.