“Will believe anything Dana says” Corey Anderson HITS OUT at people believing Khamzat Chimaev’s weight loss ‘excuse’

“Will believe anything Dana says” Corey Anderson HITS OUT at people believing Khamzat Chimaev’s weight loss ‘excuse’

Corey Anderson (L), Khamzat Chimaev (L) in action against Kevin Holland (R)

UFC 279 has been quite the mixed bag for mauler Khamzat Chimaev. On the one hand, he flat-out destroyed Kevin Holland within the first round, and submitted him. On the other hand, he missed weight spectacularly and lost out on a super-fight against superstar Nate Diaz.

Entering the weekend, Chimaev was seen by all of the bookmakers as the favourite to destroy Nate Diaz, and dismantle him either by TKO, submission or decision. Most bookies, however, had it in his favour by a decision – Nate Diaz is arguably the most durable fighter the UFC has ever seen.

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Enter the weekend, and everything was thrown into speculation. No Chimaev-Diaz fight, and UFC 279’s fate up in the air. Thanks to the UFC’s brass – including Dana White, Sean Shelby and Hunter Campbell, the main card was given a new look, and the event saved.

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Corey Anderson dismisses story of UFC doctor asking Khamzat to stop weight cut

Khamzat Chimaev at the ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC 279
Khamzat Chimaev at the ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC 279

Khamzat Chimaev should have been dismayed by seemingly everything going against his favour ahead of his proposed bout with Nate Diaz at UFC 279. In the week that preceded the fight on Saturday, Chimaev’s PR had taken a severe hit.

First, he tried to intimidate UFC middleweight Paulo Costa, which backfired, and he was left looking like a fish out of water. Some fans thought it was Chimaev trying to live up to the UFC’s image of him being a bad guy. Then, apparently, Khamzat Chimaev tried to initiate a brawl with the Holland and the Diaz camps, which eventually led to the cancellation of the press conference. And, as we now know, he missed weight as well. His only saving grace was finishing Kevin Holland within a single round.

There are people who do not buy into the reason that Khamzat Chimaev gave for missing weight. According to him, and his team, the UFC doctor asked him to stop cutting weight at 4 A.M. the day he was supposed to weigh in. One of the people not buying into the UFC’s ‘supposed’ narratives is ex-UFC fighter, Corey Anderson.

Anderson tweeted this in favour of his argument: “If you really believe the “Dr told Khamzat to stop cutting weight cuz he was cramping” gimmick. You 1. NEVER cut weight. 2. Will believe anything Dana says. Yall forget about when Aspen Ladd bout fainted on the scale and they still was gonna let her fight?#ufc279”

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The point he is trying to drive home is the fact that in the past, there have been fighters who have looked physically compromised due to a gruelling weight cut. The UFC has still allowed them onto the scale, and let them fight them if they make the prescribed weight. He specifies Aspen Ladd, who has had two emaciating weight-cut experiences, one of them leading to the bout being called off.

The first pointer of his arguments, though, could be relevant, while also being an ad hominem. While it is true that a mere enjoyer of the sport will never be able to replicate what a fighter goes through in a weight cut, it seems like an exaggerated claim.

The story of Khamzat Chimaev’s weight fiasco will continue for a while, as it did for Charles Oliveira when he had missed weight, albeit by being a fraction off the allowed threshold. MMA fans will truly get to know if Chimaev has the discipline to compete at the highest level when he eventually weighs in for a title bout.

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