Khamzat Chimaev looks eager to wrap up his unfinished business against Robert Whittaker. After the cancellation of their June middleweight bout for Khamzat’s illness (which was then replaced by Ikram Aliserkov), he is back at it on October 26 in the co-main event at UFC 308 in Saudi Arabia. Amid the anticipations of a neck-to-neck fight, last month Khamzat had revealed an interesting piece of information about his training.

In an Instagram post, Broz had revealed that legendary wrestling coach Salim Selbievich Nutsalkhanov has joined his team of trainers. For context, Selbievich was the one who trained Russia’s 3x Olympic and 6x world champion Buvaisar Saitiev. Apparently, the move was to hone his wrestling skills, something that Khamzat is revered for. Now, it seems that the training squad has become more fortified.

Peter Mavraganis, who frequently gives updates about the UFC world, just uploaded a clip on his Instagram. There, he showcased Saitiev training Khamzat. Calling Selbievich Mr. Miyagi, the fictional Karate master from the movie Karate Kid, Mavraganis wrote, “It’s not just the master[Selbievich] that is training Khamzat. Saitiev the retired student himself has been seen working with the wolf in preparation for Robert Whittaker.” If you are thinking exactly how much that matters, let us give you some context.

Back in June 2016, Khabib had posted a selfie with Saitiev while writing, “Selfie with best freestyle wrestler of all time. 3 time Olympic Champion.” Looking at it, enthusiasts could not help but be excited for Khamzat in the upcoming fight.

While it definitely speaks a lot, one of Khamzat’s biggest problems has been his inactivity and withdrawal, which has led to an average of only one fight per year in recent times. He has been out of action since UFC 294 in October last year when he secured a majority decision win over Kamaru Usman. Although his main goal looks to be to break this no-show phase, the middleweight division dynamics also make the high-stakes one for both.

Khamzat Chimaev arrives with an undefeated professional record of 13-0 and a UFC record of 7-0. On the other hand, Whittaker is 17-5 in the UFC. A victory for either fighter could significantly boost them into title contention, potentially overcoming contenders like Sean Strickland for a shot against the current champion, Dricus Du Plessis. Whittaker’s recent form has been fiery, not to forget his first-round knockout win over Ikram Aliskerov. A win over an undefeated fighter like Chimaev would reinforce him as the best middleweight.

On the other hand, Chimaev’s win against a seasoned and well-rounded fighter like Whittaker would validate his ascent in the division that he has already started showing by defeating fighters like Kevin Holland and Gilbert Burns, and underscore his potential as a title challenger. The temperature already rising and the war of words between the two is already in full swing. In fact, just days back, Khamzat tacitly branded Whittaker’s fight as an easy one.

In an interview by Riadhlevrai shared by Championship Rounds on X, Khamzat Chimaev was rating several UFC opponents that he could face in the future. When asked to rate fighters from 1 to 10, with 1 being easy and 10 being difficult, he rated Whittaker between 3 to 4. Whittaker was not the one to keep calm.

“I don’t expect him to get tired or anything else. I expect him to come out aggressive, and to be super scary in the wrestling, and be very strong. I just think I’ve been in those waters before. I know how to tread. I’m good in there. I am the best middleweight in the world. Beating him will prove that, and I look forward to it,” he boasted in MMArcade Podcast via MMA Junkie. Interestingly, if we take a look at their fight styles, the matchup looks absolutely perfect.

Known for his wrestling prowess, Chimaev can dominate opponents on the ground. His takedown accuracy is 65%, which indicates his grappling efficiency. On the other hand, Whittaker has a track record of fighting and defeating elite grapplers like Yoel Romero and Ronaldo Souza. He lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.82 per minute. Let’s dig a bit deeper into it.

Robert Whittaker has a karate-based striking style that has quick footwork and precision strikes. This approach can be challenging for Khamzat, who relies significantly on his wrestling to control his opponents. To top it off, Whittaker’s takedown defense is a remarkable 84%, making it difficult for opponents to take him down and keep him there. Khamzat can also face problems for his cardio, especially in the later rounds.

Whittaker is well-versed in 5-round fights. But this will be Chimaev’s first scheduled 25-minute bout. According to analysts like Michael Bisping, Khamzat could be in trouble if he cannot take away the fight early. But Whittaker is known for his capacity to maintain composure throughout the fight, an advantage that might give him an edge as the rounds progress. All that being said, despite his frequent illness, the depth of Khamzat’s training squad has made the fans tilt heavily toward him.

Will the legends in Khamzat Chimaev’s team give him an edge over Whittaker?

UFC fans were buzzing the moment the video dropped, convinced that this time, Borz—Khamzat Chimaev—was set to claim victory. His relentless training routine and laser-focused determination left little room for doubt in the minds of many. One fan commented, “R1 and 2 boutta be the longest 10 minutes of Rob’s life,” while another, torn between their two favorites, admitted, “Both are my favorites, but it’s over for Rob.” This got support from the Octagon as well.

Caio Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who emerged as a top middleweight contender after defeating Jared Cannonier last month at UFC on ESPN 62 also favors Khamzat as well. he spent some time in Sweden with Khamzat, training with him for the latter’s training camp against Nate Diaz, the fight that never happened. And Caio believes that it is going to be “a very tough fight for Whittaker” because Khamzat “(out)-trains everyone in the room.” Notably, this heavy training is often blamed for Khamzat’s illness. But it seems that he has completely revamped his training, ensuring he’s in peak condition before stepping into the octagon.

In a candid conversation with Adam Zubarayev, Chimaev revealed a critical change in his regimen. “The point is they now let me rest and recover properly. I used to go to the gym and train till I was done. But then I ended up in hospital. Like the last time when I was in hospital, three times in a row within three weeks. My immune system went down, I got sick.”

By learning to pace himself and prioritize recovery, UFC’s #12-ranked middleweight contender seems to have cracked the code on how to maintain his strength and conditioning. It’s no wonder fans are worried for his opponent, with one boldly stating, “Rob is done for.”

Despite Chimaev’s newfound approach, he hasn’t entirely escaped health issues. He has previously withdrawn from key fights because of stomach bugs and illness, leaving some fans skeptical. One UFC follower noted Robert Whittaker’s ability to stay healthy and ready for action, commenting, “Rob by the better immune system.” Another fan, however, couldn’t help but anticipate the action, saying, “The fight will be Fire.”

Chimaev has faced his share of trolling, with veterans dubbing him the “King of Withdrawals” because of his frequent pullouts from big bouts. But despite the mockery, Borz has returned stronger than ever, training under one of the best coaches in the game. This renewed focus has one fan predicting, “Rob will just have to get past around three,” while another chimed in with conviction, “Rob is cooked.” Will Robert Whittaker have what it takes to stand against the rejuvenated Chimaev? Share your thoughts in the comments.