When Daniel Cormier showed alarming "concern" about Khamzat Chimaev's road to UFC title
Khamzat Chimaev left a lasting impression at UFC 308 with a decisive first-round submission over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, showcasing his relentless grappling and aggressive approach.
The Chechen-born fighter, who has battled health issues and weight-cut challenges throughout his career, previously faced scrutiny from UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier.
'DC's concerns stemmed from Chimaev’s time away from the octagon, citing inconsistent appearances as a challenge to his credibility as a title contender. Following Chimaev’s dominant win over Kevin Holland in 2022, Cormier highlighted in an episode of his DC&RC show, that Chimaev needed consistent fights to maintain momentum, especially if aiming to fight for the title:
"For me, it's a big concern because now... Who and when does he fight? He isn't in a position right now where he is a once-a-year type of guy. You need him at the beginning of the year, you need him at the end of the year if you want to still establish him as a guy that could challenge [for the title]."
Check out Daniel Cormier's comments below (28:45):
Chimaev’s health struggles have hindered his consistency, including an episode with COVID-19 that nearly led to retirement in 2021 and forced cancellations of multiple fights. However, his recent win over Whittaker at UFC 308 marks a significant step forward, proving he is ready to push past these setbacks on his path to title contention.
Khamzat Chimaev ready for potential middleweight championship clash with Dricus du Plessis
Fresh off his decisive victory at UFC 308, Khamzat Chimaev has expressed his readiness to challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight title.
With UFC CEO Dana White indicating that du Plessis may face Sean Strickland next, Chimaev remains optimistic that he could be next in line. Speaking to media after his showdown at UFC 308, 'Borz' said:
“It doesn’t matter Sean or Dricus, just going for the gold, So we’ll see what happens next. I’m ready... How I did with this guy, Rob, and how he done? Rob took him down, so if Rob took him down, there is salam alaikum [against me].”[H/t: MMA Junkie]
Check out Khamzat Chimaev's media interview below: