“Work in silence, let your success be your noise,” Frank Ocean once said, and this sentiment rings true for middleweight juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev. Once criticized for his “poor immunity,” which led to multiple fight withdrawals, ‘Borz’ proved his doubters wrong last year after he made swift work of Robert Whittaker with a face crank. This led the Chechnya native to be propelled to #3 in the 185lbs rankings and earned the respect of fans and analysts alike.

Among his growing supporters is Israel Adesanya. The former 185lbs kingpin began to respect Chimaev after witnessing his bout with Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 two years ago. Now, with Izzy set to face Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia next month, he was recently asked about the possibility of facing ‘Borz’. Though focused on the Frenchman, Adesanya acknowledged Chimaev’s skill and determination.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Adesanya shared, “I haven’t envisioned it. I’ve just been focused on this Imavov for the last 20 weeks or so. That’s the only fight I’ve had in my mind. But yeah, seeing how, uh, what’s his name, Khamzat did definitely made me go, ‘Okay, he’s legit.’ But again, I’ve seen him fight over how many years, and you know, he’s game. The fight with Gilbert was the one that made me respect his dog in him. So it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, this guy’s really about that life.”

However, the Nigerian-Kiwi’s praise for the Chechnya export seems somewhat contradictory, especially given that just yesterday, Adesanya’s coach criticized Chimaev’s “fight IQ” and expressed concerns about his “gas tank.” And this rings true. After all, Chimaev’s three-round battles with Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman are still considered one of the toughest challenges of his career.

‘Borz’ found himself in numerous dangerous situations and seemed to be tired at the end of those bouts. But ultimately, he emerged victorious. However, Chimaev continues to face criticism for his endurance, a recurring concern throughout his professional MMA career. And this is even more true when we consider his past health struggles.

Khamzat Chimaev explains why he doesn’t like “saving” his gas tank like other fighters

MMA fighters generally fall into two categories: those with excellent

“gas tanks” and those with less stamina. Fighters such as Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor have often been associated with endurance struggles, and now Khamzat Chimaev has joined their ranks. Known for his aggressive, high-intensity style and relentless drive to finish fights quickly, ‘Borz’s approach was clear just last weekend at UFC 311, where Umar Nurmagomedov, despite his speed, was unable to keep up after two rounds.

‘Borz’ recently explained to ESPN MMA why he often exhausts himself early in fights: “I’m not the guy who just saves my [stamina], you know… I always try to finish my opponent. I don’t try to, like a lot of guys do, like Leon Edwards, like Belal Muhammad… a lot of guys just save themselves to go five rounds, to a decision. I’m always like, blame myself. I can finish anyone, so that’s why I’m going all in.”

What do you make of Israel Adesanya’s unexpected praise for Khamzat Chimaev, especially given that his coach just criticized the Chechnya native the day before? How do you envision a potential fight between Israel Adesanya and ‘Borz’ unfolding in the future? Share your thoughts below.