“That’s where Chimaev needs to be”- Chael Sonnen declares Khamzat Chimaev needs to fight in middleweight instead of welterweight
Chael Sonnen wants Khamzat Chimaev in the middleweight division
UFC 271’s main event fight made Chael Sonnen wonder why Khamzat Chimaev did not make a decision to stay at the middleweight division.
The fighter that excites UFC legend Chael Sonnen the most is rising superstar Khamzat Chimaev. The former fighter could not help but think of the “Borz” while watching middleweight kings Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker go at each other for the middleweight belt at UFC 271.
Chimaev, who has previously fought in the middleweight division should look to dominate the 185-lb division, according to Chael. Khamzat has four fights in the UFC and two of them have been in the middleweight division. The weight class did not stop the fighter from finishing his opponents which brings Sonnen to the question of why Chimaev’s camp is pushing him to fight in the 170-lb division.
Chael Sonnen says Khamzat Chimaev is being “Americanized”
Sonnen believes it is a culture in America that wrestlers have to fight in a weight division below their natural weight to get the best out of them. This process might give them the weight advantage inside the octagon but however, the work to cut off the weight is a tedious one which Sonnen condemns strongly.
“Grab a hold of Chimaev. It is not too late. Stop. Stop this 170 business. We are not dying to see you in there with Usman. The entire draw to Chimaev is lets see how far he can get,” said Sonnen on Khamzat’s plans to capture the welterweight title.
“When you have a guy in Chimaev who loves to take people down, you’re asking, ‘Is he likely to take down a guy who has never wrestled [Israel Adesanya] or a national wrestling champion [Kamaru Usman]?'” says Chael. Do you agree with Sonnen on this? Should Khamzat Chimaev prioritize the middleweight belt?
Prateek Athanur
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