The last few years have been anything but plain sailing for Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC.
Issues with fighting in the United States have made it harder for the UFC to book him fights but the much bigger problem has been his own health.
“Borz” has been kept relatively inactive for a long time largely due to his current condition which seems to have significantly impacted his progress in MMA.
All of this could have been put behind him in June when he was set to return against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
A win over a top contender in Whittaker in Saudi Arabia will have finally put Chimaev back on track and where he should be – but this wasn’t to be as he was forced to withdraw from the fight a week out due to illness.
With the hopes of returning later this year at what will likely be UFC 307, there is still hope that he can return to form inside the Octagon.
Guram Kutateladze Says Khamzat Chimaev Is Back Training With October Return In Mind
Georgian lightweight contender Guram Kutateladze is a close friend and training partner of Chimaev’s at Allstars Training Center in Sweden.
During a recent interview with James Lynch for Sportskeeda MMA, he spoke about how Chimaev is progressing after overcoming the illness which led to Ikram Aliskerov taking his place last month.
Kutateladze had some promising and hopeful things to say about the middleweight contender’s current situation.
He believes that we will see him in Abu Dhabi in Octoberm which will be roughly one year on from his last appearance where he defeated Kamaru Usman via majority decision at UFC 294.
“It was unfortunate but again, we have to keep positive thoughts, positive mentality. He’s feeling better now. He’s been for a few weeks in Caucasian Mountains, breathing fresh air, mountain air and training there with his team. With his brothers and team and I think boxing national team too so hopefully, as he said himself, we gonna see him in Abu Dhabi in October and I’m sure 100% that he will be ready and as always, energized.”
