When it comes to enthralling MMA fans, UFC’s #12-ranked middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is in a league of his own, consistently keeping the MMA community on edge. Whether it’s threatening to “tear apart” UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, pulling out of fights, or his most recent move of switching coaches just a month before the biggest fight of his career against Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, ‘Borz’ recently opened up about it in an interview, claiming, “Now I take a better approach. I work with great coaches.”

This last-minute change has left fans and critics alike wondering how much of an impact his new team can make in just a few short weeks. Until now, Khamzat Chimaev had been silent, but he has finally stepped up to discuss how his new coach is helping him prepare.

Khamzat Chimaev opens up about his new training regime

It’s undeniable that Khamzat Chimaev is an incredible fighter, but his health issues often frustrate his supporters whenever a big fight approaches. As a result, he has become the main target of his critics, who label him the “King of Withdrawals” due to his tendency to fall ill before important bouts. This was later confirmed by ‘Borz’s’ training partner, Caio Borralho few weeks back, who noted, “Maybe that’s why sometimes he, like, kills his body and doesn’t make it to the fight. But definitely, he’s guy that over trains everyone in the room.”

Fed up with the over-training regimen in the middleweight division, Khamzat Chimaev decided to return to his earlier coach, under whom he started his wrestling career, to silence his critics.’Borz’ finally threw down the gauntlet, stating, “The point is they now let me rest and recover properly. I used to go to the gym and just train until I was done.”

Chimaev’s sudden change of plans made him the most trolled fighter in UFC history, and critics and analysts saw his move as a desperate attempt to prove himself. However, fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen does not share that view unlike other analysts, he sees ‘Borz’s’ decision to return to his old coach as a positive move.

Chael Sonnen backs Khamzat Chimaev’s comeback plan

In 2020, when Khamzat Chimaev stormed into the UFC during the pandemic, fans were immediately captivated by the Chechen phenom’s raw power and seemingly invincible aura. Few could have predicted that, years later, he would still be unbeaten inside the Octagon, his record as flawless as ever. Yet, beneath the surface of his incredible rise lies a journey fraught with setbacks and complications—his path to dominance has been anything but smooth.

Despite his undefeated status, ‘Borz’s’ UFC career has seen its fair share of turbulence. Multiple high-profile pullouts have tainted an otherwise stellar run, including three canceled bouts against then-bantamweight champion Leon Edwards in 2021, all due to lingering COVID-19 issues. Most recently, fight cancellations against Paulo Costa in 2023 and Robert Whittaker in 2024 have left fans questioning his readiness and resilience at the highest levels of the sport. The stage was set for him to fight Whittaker at the UFC’s first-ever event in Saudi Arabia—a monumental clash that slipped through his fingers once again.

But Chimaev’s latest move has sent ripples through the MMA community—his decision to return to his former coach, Salim Noutsalkhanov, who initially molded him into the wrecking ball that took the UFC by storm. Critics, as always, have been quick to raise doubts. Can going back to the coach of his early days bring Chimaev back to his best, especially with a monumental fight against former middleweight king Robert Whittaker looming on the horizon?

Chael Sonnen, never one to shy away from sharing his opinions, weighed in with his support for Chimaev’s decision. “There will be nobody that knows him better than the coach who took him in as a little boy and guided him until he became a young man,” Sonnen remarked in a recent YouTube video. His statement rings true—sometimes, the key to rediscovering greatness is reconnecting with the roots that nurtured it in the first place.

What are your thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev’s decision to return to his former coach ahead of his highly anticipated showdown with Robert Whittaker? Will this move propel him back to the unstoppable force he once was, or is he treading dangerous waters? Drop your opinion below.