The mountains of Russia have a different electric air about them. The fighter who trains in those fierce ice-cold mountains is one of a kind, creating a different genre of fighters for UFC. Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired undefeated Hall of Famer, churns out protégées from his camp with the help of Javier Mendez.  Surprisingly, Khamzat Chimaev is not from his team but is from the same country as Khabib– and it shows.

Although he’s an Emirati by nationality, ‘Borz’s origins in the Chechen Republic have helped him make a mark as one of the best MMA wrestlers out there. He sealed his authenticity by defeating Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 with a devastating grappling game. The Aussie phenom did not just have a simple loss because his already weakened jaw got dislocated by Chimaev. Even after getting defeated Robert Whittaker complimented Chimaev’s game and strength in the fight. So if his opponent compliments him even after he lost, it is not a surprise that other MMA pundits will also vouch for ‘Borz’

Kamaru Usman recently praised Chimaev while speaking to Henry Cejudo about the year-end Pound 4 Pound UFC awards.  Usman chose the Chechen in one go and said, “He came across, shot that double, ran him down, got him to the position, and pushed his teeth back”

He described Chimaev’s power by narrating how he sprinted across the octagon and took his opponent down while trying to choke him. However, it was not just a normal choke but it was over the face that dislocated ‘The Reaper’s’ jaw. Even Whittaker expressed his admiration for his Russian counterpart and expressed his satisfaction with his performance.

Robert Whittaker explains his stance on the fight with Chimaev

Whittaker complimented Chimaev’s wrestling abilities and grappling skills. He said, “We did a lot of wrestling, we did a lot of stuff, we did a lot of war work. But, mate, it’s so hard to replicate that sort of takedown, that sort of commitment. Props to him—the guy knows his strengths, played into them to a T, and is willing to burn it all there for it, right? Anyway, the takedown—he goes in, ankle picks me off the fence. It was a great takedown, it was a beautiful takedown.”

However, along with complimenting his opponent he also clarified that he did not find Chimaev, exceptionally strong. Rather he found the Chechen with a good weight distribution game during the rear naked choke that resulted in his win. Whittaker explained, “He has a heavy sag. He’s not ridiculously strong or anything like that, but he has a heavy sag. And he was good at making me work—always kind of reaching for under hooks, reaching for ankle picks, trying to get a hook in.”

Whittaker needed 6 teeth implants, and braces to fix his jaw after the fight, However, he is fine now and even Chimaev later admitted after the fight that he did not mean to break Whittaker’s jaw. He said in the post-fight presser,  “I felt something was wrong with his chin when I push it, so feels bad for that. Didn’t mean to break someone’s chin, but it’s my work, make somebody [feel] pain“ Meanwhile, as the year comes to an end do you think Chimaev will be given the best submission award?

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