Kamaru
Usman is questioning Khamzat
Chimaev’s training strategy.
Chimaev (15-1) lost his middleweight title to Sean
Strickland (31-7) via a narrow split decision at UFC 328
last weekend. Chimaev was visibly tired in the second round, and
despite finding a second wind in the fourth, it was too little, too
late from “Borz.”
Advertisement
Usman, who has shared the Octagon with Chimaev, believes the latter
needs an MMA head coach. While Chimaev certainly has coaches who
are a regular presence in his corner, he doesn’t train with any
renowned MMA coach. Chimaev’s friend,
UFC lightweight Arman
Tsarukyan, was seen taking an active role in his corner last
weekend. Usman believes Chimaev has gotten this far by training
himself for the most part. According to Usman, Chimaev needs a head
coach to reach the next level.
How to Reach the Next Level
“I’m impressed by how far he’s gotten by just really training
himself,” Chimaev said on the ”Pound4Pound” podcast. “Because in there
between rounds, who’s his coach? Who’s giving him sound
instructions?… [Arman
Tsarukyan], a fighter still trying to make his way to the
title, was your head coach? Who’s your striking coach? Who’s your
MMA coach?… What’s missing is just that person that you respect
to the utmost degree… A bond between Khamzat and finding a coach
that can put that together could take Khamzat to the next
level.”
Chimaev trains strength and conditioning under coach Sam Calavitta
at the Treigning Lab in California. Chimaev can be seen doing
gruelling workouts with a team that is not limited to MMA fighters.
However, many have started doubting the effectiveness of “Coach
Cal’s” training regimen for fighters since Chimaev’s loss against
Strickland. UFC veteran Cub Swanson
had raised questions about the same long back, wondering how
back-breaking S&C applies to MMA.