The middleweight division of the UFC, it seems has been caught into a storm, with the rumors of a big fight being cancelled. The whole MMA community is put on alert whenever a Khamzat Chimaev training video comes out. Similarly, this time too, fans started wondering who he’s going to fight next. With a rumor that took the internet with a storm, it was speculated that ‘Borz’ is challenging the 185-pound division kingpin Dricus Du Plessis, for his title. But after an injury to Du Plessis, it seems Chimaev has to find himself a new path.
A new speculation going around about an interim title fight between ‘Borz’ and Caio Borralho has taken over the internet. A fight for which both the fighters have verbally agreed to, it still has to be put in pen and paper as an interim middleweight championship fight or a regular fight. A majority of the MMA community believes the UFC should not go forward with an interim title fight as the champion Du Plessis, is already an active fighter who has defended his belt regularly.
Joining the argument was a UFC legend in Daniel Cormier who spoke about the potential fight, admitted though it would be an amazing fight, putting it as an interim title fight would be unjust and unfair. ” Khamzat said yes to the fight, he said that the fight’s available to happen, he said let’s do it. I, I got a problem with it though, there’s no reason for an interim championship fight imma just put it out there. If if there’s an interim title fight being that Dricus has just fought very recently, it would be in my opinion, one of the most unjust interim titles made in recent UFC history.”
MMA: UFC 279-Chimaev vs Holland, Sep 10, 2022 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Khamzat Chimaev red gloves fights Kevin Holland blue gloves during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports, 10.09.2022 20:49:28, 19026305, NPStrans, T-Mobile Arena, Holland, Kevin Holland, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJoexCamporealex 19026305
DC even compared the Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall title situation to that of the middleweight division’s right now. He highlighted the main factors behind giving Aspinall an interim title fight, saying it was the huge time gaps between the fights of Jones that led to the interim title bout. However, in the case of Du Plessis, the situation is the exact opposite. ‘Stillknocks’ has not only been a consistent champion, he has victories over some of the best middleweights of UFC’s modern history. It is absolutely criminal to not recognize him among the best of the UFC.
But one has to wonder about Chimaev’s luck. He was about to face Du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship a few days ago, and today people don’t want to see him fight for even an interim title. Though their intentions are pure, fans want Chimaev to get a proper title shot. But this isn’t the first time Chimaev’s luck has betrayed him.
Du Plessis pulls out, Khamzat Chimaev looks for new challenge. Has his luck ran out again?
It’s a tough job being a Khamzat Chimaev fan. On one hand you have the individual, his record and his performances. Chimaev, in all aspects is a perfect fighter. He’s competitive, electric and never steps down from a challenge. While on the other hand, floating over like dark a cloud over all of his accomplishments is his bad luck. Be it his health, his travel issues or the same for his opponents, with every step forward, he has always had to take more than a few steps back.
Although one may say Chimaev is unlucky, we cannot forget his infamous training methods. The Chechen fighter always keeps his fans on their toes as whenever his fights are announced, every single one of them is left praying that he makes it to the octagon. Famous for over training and burning himself out, Chimaev’s intensity always clashes with his luck. And this intensity shows in his fighting record. His eight-fight win streak in the UFC started with three wins in the span of two months! After that he took a one-year gap to fight once and then taking around six months each time between two fights and now, a one-year gap between his last two fights again.
Khamzat Chimaev is on the verge of being not only one of the biggest stars in the UFC but also a great champion. Whenever Chimaev has found his way to a career changing fight, somehow he has fell down and not been able to carry himself to the Octagon. He already has six fights cancelled due to his issues till now. Surely every single pull-out from here will leave a deeper stain on his career and his own prime in the sport.
An athlete like no other, Chimaev has all the tools to be at top of UFC. But his biggest enemy or weakness lies within his more of his overtraining tendencies and less on his bad luck. He surely has to re-establish himself as a regular fighter to cement himself in the title contention race. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
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