Khamzat Chimaev Teases ‘Drastic’ Measures Before UFC 319 Title Shot

Middleweight Khamzat Chimaev reveals drastic steps to ensure making weight and compete ahead of UFC 319 PPV title showdown.

Khamzat Chimaev Teases ‘Drastic’ Measures Before UFC 319 Title Shot

Khamzat Chimaev disclosed he's hard-pressed to avoid health complications (Source: X)

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The main event of UFC 319 is bountiful with starpower and explosiveness, making the headliner an epic and hyped showdown. One half of this August 16 PPV showdown is Khamzat Chimaev. Additionally, one half of his performative trajectory has been riddled with multiple withdrawals and camp illnesses. Ahead of his first crack at middleweight gold, ‘Borz’ is not keen on taking any chances.

Some have voiced concerns about the potential, perceived fairness of snubbing Khamzat Chimaev’s monster cardio. But in actuality, the Chechen has never reached five-round wars, and pundits are citing the significant focus on his fitness and training regimen leading up to his first title shot. This has been a big talking point ahead of UFC 319 PPV.

The undefeated star proved he needs only one round and one moment to end it all, as apparent by his latest first-round jaw crank at UFC 308. But then again, will his last-stitch camp preparation be good enough and in good health? Will he make weight this time? Those are lingering questions.

Fight fans have already taken clever swipes and jabs that champ Dricus Du Plessis wins this ‘by better shape’ and by far better immune system. That is to say, one-part of the pro-DDP fanbase is expecting his health to fail (again). Now, the title challenger has disclosed he is taking severe measures, including avoiding crowds, to stay in better health.

I have to be ready, don’t get sick. That’s why I am just saying to [the] boys, If, if…[we] go to the mall, if somebody sick fan comes, maybe we get that sickness, so I have to be careful for that.

Khmazat Chimaev in UFC 319 pre-fight check in’s with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto

Not for nothing, this Chicago PPV title fight already faced initial hiccups. At one point, when UFC 319 came to be, ESPN analyst Daniel Cormier even postulated the fight was off and that Chimaev was out. Subsequently, this is not the one and only time the Chechen fighter has caused a stir with his health, pre-fight.

In 2021, ‘Borz’ announced his retirement from the sport. This decision was influenced by the persistent effects of the novel COVID-19, and the supposed fight with Leon Edwards never happened. Then again, his UFC on ABC 6 fight vs. Robert Whittaker was to be a clear UFC 185-pound title eliminator but was pushed to October, due to a sudden camp illness.

Those who trained with Chimaev said his auto-immune system gave in due to exerting too much pressure. It is something that has happened many times since his initial COVID-block. While his recent strain of commentary does not suggest something similar, it does suggest the title challenger is taking measures.

One of UFC 319 title challenger Khamzat Chimaev’s injuries came from horrific childhood accident

Things are never dull with Khamzat Chimaev. Keen on expecting a fight with Stockon Pride Nate Diaz? The ‘Borz’ misses weight and spins it all, haywire. Expecting a barnburner with a former champ at the combat capital? Non-spontaneously, the fight world wakes up to find him sick before his UFC on ESPN 58 weight cut, and Ikram Aliskerov fighting in his stead.

UFC 319's Khamzat Chimaev sports a dent on his lips
UFC 319’s Khamzat Chimaev sports a dent on his lips (Source: X)

Then there’s the zingy one-liners and spirited rivalries. Paulo Costa has been a big rival of Borz. He even griped with Conor McGregor when the latter dropped trash-talking bombs with snaps of Chechen BJJ black belt Ayub Magomadov. For long, Chimaev’s lip scar has also been a point of interest, and as is with any fighter, many speculated it was from a brawl or some heroics.

McGregor even shunted the mouth injury in a defunct-tweet spree, billing him ‘Rat lip’ something or the other, following a lot of profanity. Turns out, the scar comes from a childhood injury like none other. In a now-discontinued interview in 2020, Chimaev divulged the scar had far more unsettling origins.

According to SportBible, Chimaev said he fell down a staircase when he was two years old. He slammed the stem of his lip onto concrete, ripped his lip, lost teeth, and broke his nasal stem in the fall. Given all that, it’s a wonder the UFC 319 title fighter has such cardio and ground-prowess, given he can only breathe out of his nostril!

Additionally, before UFC days, the Chechen boasted an overall 12-0 record (92kg bracket) as a three-time Swedish national champ in freestyle wrestling. The danger is on and piling pressure is real, and come a few more days, Chimaev will be hard-pressed to prove why he is considerably the boogeyman of the division.

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