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As anticipation builds for UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev’s brutal training regime has taken center stage—thanks to a revealing update from fellow UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan. Set to face middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Chimaev is leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of UFC gold.
However, Tsarukyan's inside look into the “Borz” training camp has unveiled a pattern of extreme overtraining that may have hurt more than helped the Chechen-Swedish star in the past.
Khamzat Chimaev’s obsession with intensity
Chimaev has long been known for his relentless grind in the gym, but Tsarukyan has now confirmed what many have speculated—that Khamzat's work ethic borders on self-destructive.
“Khamzat’s never at 100% on fight night because he constantly overtrains,” Tsarukyan revealed in an interview with Kamil Gadzhiev.
Arman Tsarukyan detailed how Khamzat Chimaev would finish sparring sessions only to immediately transition into bag work and weightlifting, often pushing his body beyond its limits. While admirable, this intensity has come at a cost.
According to Chimaev himself, this non-stop training left his immune system compromised, resulting in long gaps between fights and multiple medical setbacks. Since September 2020, Chimaev has fought only five times inside the Octagon—an unusually low activity rate for a top-tier UFC contender.
A smarter camp, a healthier fighter
Learning from the past, Chimaev’s camp has taken significant steps to protect their fighter’s health ahead of the biggest bout of his career. For the first time, his team has introduced a performance coach tasked with tracking his physical recovery and regulating his workload.
“He’s now being tested daily to monitor his recovery,” Arman Tsarukyan explained. “They have devices that show his recovery status every day... We need a guy who will control this 24/7 and stop him at the right moment so he won’t overtrain.”
This scientific approach marks a significant shift in Khamzat Chimaev’s preparation, turning focus from just hard work to smart work. If executed correctly, it could finally unlock the version of “Borz” fans have long waited to see—an explosive athlete at 100% capacity on fight night.
A potential turning point
Chimaev’s talent has never been in question. His wrestling-heavy style, coupled with unmatched aggression, makes him one of the most feared names in the UFC. But consistent health issues and extended layoffs have kept him from capitalizing on his full potential.
Now, with a title opportunity on the horizon and a more scientific training model in place, UFC 319 may become the proving ground for Khamzat Chimaev’s long-awaited evolution. And thanks to Arman Tsarukyan’s candid insights, fans now know the high-stakes transformation taking place behind the scenes.
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