Khamzat Chimaev’s Biggest Strength Revealed by Aaron Pico After High Intensity Training Sessions

UFC featherweight contender Aaron Pico reveals his experience of training with UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

Khamzat Chimaev’s Biggest Strength Revealed by Aaron Pico After High Intensity Training Sessions

Khamzat Chimaev Aaron Pico (via Instagram)

In Short
  • Khamzat Chimaev is recognized for his exceptional lower-body strength and grappling control in the UFC.
  • Aaron Pico credits his training with Chimaev for enhancing his wrestling and positional dominance.
  • Chimaev is preparing for his first UFC title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328.

Khamzat Chimaev is widely regarded as one of the most dominant wrestlers in the UFC today. His control was reinforced in his most recent performance at UFC 319, where he once again showcased his grappling. This dominance comes from a ruthless training style built on relentless conditioning. That same edge was highlighted by UFC featherweight Aaron Pico, who pointed to Chimaev’s lower-body strength.

Pico is an American MMA fighter regarded as a prospect after signing with the now-dissolved Bellator MMA as a teenager, backed by elite amateur wrestling and boxing credentials. He made his professional debut in 2017 at Bellator 180, where he was submitted in the first round by Zach Freeman. Pico later rebounded with explosive knockout wins that showcased his power and aggressive fighting style.

Pico most recently earned his first UFC victory at UFC 327, defeating fellow former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull by unanimous decision. Leading into the bout, he trained with Chimaev and his team to sharpen his wrestling, grappling, and pressure-based control. Pico has since revealed that working with the UFC middleweight champion helped him better understand intensity and positional dominance.

I have never grappled with him (Chimaev), most of the time I just do conditioning with him. When he was showing me some moves before the fight, I understood how strong he is. But it is just his positioning, he can control you with his legs and not even use his arms. His lower body is so strong. The knowledge to detail was pretty impressive and I was working on it alot, trying to do the best I can.

Aaron Pico via Submission Radio

Pico’s time training with Chimaev played a significant role in his preparation during a difficult phase of his career following a spinning elbow knockout loss to Lerone Murphy. The defeat left Pico sidelined for nearly seven months as he recovered physically and worked to rebuild confidence inside the cage. Training alongside Chimaev helped him regain sharpness in wrestling and re-establish his rhythm

Chimaev is currently training at the Treigning Lab gym in Southern California under renowned conditioning coach Sam Calavitta. The Chechen champion has increasingly built a small, elite training group around this setup. Fighters such as former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw and lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan have also joined him for training sessions.

Khamzat Chimaev is now preparing for his upcoming fight against arch-rival Sean Strickland, which is expected to serve as his first UFC title defense at UFC 328. His training camp continues to focus on maintaining his dominant wrestling base and physical pressure. Aaron Pico, meanwhile, will look to build on his recent UFC success and continue his winning momentum as he settles into the promotion.

Khamzat Chimaev pushes teammates and fellow fighters to the limit

Khamzat Chimaev’s training sessions are widely regarded as some of the most demanding in MMA, producing fighters who are pushed to their physical limits. His intense approach is a major reason behind his grappling dominance, as the constant pressure and high-volume sparring sharpen his control and endurance. He also trains with heavyweights and light heavyweights such as Khalil Rountree Jr.

Khamzat Chimaev builds gym in Chechnya
Khamzat Chimaev builds gym in Chechnya (via UFC)

Chimaev has built a structured team around himself under Treigning Labs in Newport Beach, California, a performance training facility known for elite MMA and strength work. He has been seen training there alongside light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr and former UFC champion Luke Rockhold, using heavier opponents to sharpen his wrestling and control.

According to JAXXON podcast host Bear Degidio, Chimaev once made his team complete 20 rounds of five-minute sparring followed by late-night wrestling drills after a full day of training. Degidio believed that this form of training and hard work made them some of the most complete fighters in combat sports.

Khamzat Chimaev’s upcoming UFC 328 fight presents a unique challenge against Sean Strickland, with some surprisingly picking Strickland for an upset due to his volume striking and unorthodox style that could test Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy approach. However, Chimaev’s recent training performances suggest he is in strong form heading into the matchup on May 9th at the Prudential Center.

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