Hamzat Chimaev’s next opponent will be former champion Robert Whittaker. Chimaev even proposed to Dana White to make the fight a 10-round bout instead of the standard 5 rounds. Naturally, no one agreed to this, and it was just bold words. However, they resonated with fans. Chimaev has cardio issues, and even completing 5 rounds with his active fighting style is not easy. If you like to bet on sports, you can place them on the Pin-up oyunu website. A large selection of events and high odds for bettors are available.
Chimaev-Whittaker in details
Hamzat Chimaev’s recent fight with Kamaru Usman raised numerous questions among fans. Particularly, criticism was aimed at his weak cardio and inability to pace himself throughout the fight. Chimaev dominated the former number one pound-for-pound fighter in the first round but quickly began to tire.
Now, Chimaev faces a new challenge — a five-round bout against former UFC champion Robert Whittaker. This fight will headline the first-ever UFC event in Saudi Arabia on June 22nd. Whittaker presents a challenge in terms of testing Chimaev’s title ambitions, and it will also provide answers regarding Chimaev’s ability to endure long distances against top fighters. Whittaker is much more experienced in this regard; he can maintain a high level of performance even in the fifth round, whereas Chimaev has previously encountered difficulties even in shorter fights.
Chimaev has been given a tough opponent, and his endurance may not be sufficient. Former champion turned expert and commentator Michael Bisping notes similarities in Chimaev’s struggles in his fight against Gilbert Burns: “If I’m not mistaken, this will be Hamzat Chimaev’s first five-round fight. And that’s worrisome. Robert Whittaker doesn’t slow down; he’s very experienced and has performed at a high level for a long time. In his fights against Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, Chimaev slowed down, and the second and third rounds were very close. If he can’t finish Whittaker early in the fight, then a five-round fight against such a guy will be a disaster for Chimaev. Anything can happen in this fight. And that’s a good fight. A very, very good fight.”
The cause of stamina problems is COVID in 2021
Another former UFC fighter, Josh Thomson, offered his insight into why Chimaev has been experiencing breathing problems: “If the fight ends in the first two rounds, then Chimaev will probably win, but I don’t exclude Whittaker’s victory because Chimaev fights very recklessly and impulsively. It’s very spectacular for fans, I don’t condemn it because I like it. I won’t miss Chimaev’s fight. There’s something about him that makes people watch his fights. It’s his aggressiveness, his carelessness, his recklessness. The way he talks… His fights are interesting to watch. I just don’t believe he’s the same after COVID. His lungs, I think, are damaged. And he has some deep-seated problems that he just couldn’t solve, so I hope he does, but if this fight goes into the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, the advantage will be on Whittaker’s side.”
The COVID mentioned by Thomson affected Chimaev back in early 2021, and the consequences of the illness significantly impacted him. His manager, Mehdisham Mashhour, recounted that Chimaev fell asleep in the hotel lobby due to weakness, and after hospitalization, he called and said he would die. Against this backdrop, in March of the same year, Chimaev announced the end of his career: “I want to thank everyone for their support on my journey in this sport. I think I’ve done everything. Yes, I know I didn’t take the belt, but it’s not the main victory in this life. Maybe this will upset you, but my heart and body tell me ‘enough.’ I want to say a huge thank you to my team and the UFC.”
Dana White immediately responded that Chimaev’s post was written in the heat of the moment. And three weeks later, Borz “returned”: “I was sick for two months, couldn’t recover, stressed that I couldn’t train and fight. I almost died. People die from this disease, but I’m still here. Unfortunately for opponents.”
Chimaev indirectly blamed the doctors who treated him in Las Vegas. The fighter began training before fully recovering, worsening his condition. After sparring sessions, Chimaev coughed up blood, and it later turned out that he still had fibrosis in his lungs and had to undergo helium inhalation therapy.
Since his return, Chimaev has secured four victories—two decisive ones obtained in the first round and two fairly close ones against Usman and Burns. The obvious conclusion is that the longer the fight drags on, the more chances Chimaev has to lose. His fighting style is very aggressive and energy-consuming. And if he faces opponents who can defend well, then Chimaev will waste his energy in vain.
