Khamzat Chimaev’s coach, Andreas Michael says he made the decision to stop the weight cut, not the doctors
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Andreas Hale reveals it was him who called for Chimaev's weight cut to be stopped
Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 279 fight week went the opposite way it was originally planned. In what was supposed to be his crowning moment, turned out to be the worst stain on his career yet, as it proved him to be unreliable.
Chimaev, was supposed to headline the PPV in a legcay-fight against Nate Diaz. Throughout fight week Chimaev got involved in multiple brawls from the PI to the Press Conferences. In fact, a brawl between Kevin Holland and Chimaev, that later on, went to include the entire Diaz entourage led to the press conference being canceled.
As a cherry on top, Chimaev came in overweight by a wide margin, putting the entire event in jeopardy just 24 hours away from the first fight. Thanks to some good negotiating on Hunter’s part and game readiness in all of the 6 fighters at the top of the card, the UFC was able to salvage the event.
Andreas Michael says Khamzat Chimaev was “shaking and vomiting” trying to make weight
While Chimaev and Dana White repeatedly went on to say that it was a doctor that advised him to not cut any further, his coach has come out and said the contrary. Many criticized Khamzat Chimaev when he gave the doctors as a reason to why he couldn’t make weight as it was unprofessional on his part to plan so horribly.
Today, Andreas Michael, Chimaev’s coach in Sweden came out and flipped the script
Yes, it was his coach who asked to weight cut to be stopped. It was Bret Okamoto that first reported on this via a series of two tweets. However, Andreas felt that it may come out sounding wrong and went to clarify his statement on the MMA Hour.
“It was my decision, under the guidance of a physician, like it wasn’t just my unprofessional opinion that he couldn’t continue, “ said Andreas about the process of making the decision to stop. He continued, “We have been doing this 25 years, and it’s the first time someone has missed weight under my supervision, so if he’s gonna miss weight, we have to be a 100% sure that he can’t make weight, we need to know it’s dangerous for him to continue cutting weight, but when a doctor tells you, it’s not safe, of course ai have to listen”
When asked by Helwani what did the doctors see that made them come to that decision, the coach would say it was quite evident on the outside. “He was getting muscle spasms, shaking, vomiting, when he stood up he was passing out, so i was worried about him” said Andreas about the direct effects of the weight cut on his student.
Chimaev has been asked by many to consider making a permanent shift to Middleweight since this is the second time in three fights he’s had trouble making the welterweight limit. The first instance was his fight island towel trick before his fight against Li Jingliang.
Also Read: WATCH: Khamzat Chimaev DEMOLISHES ‘big talk’ Kevin Holland in less than ONE round at UFC 279
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Jerin Mathew
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