Khamzat Chimaev calls himself "the best wrestler in the UFC" ahead of UFC 308, previews Robert Whittaker clash: "Why should I be worried about him?"

Khamzat Chimaev recently declared himself the best wrestler in the UFC while discussing his highly anticipated clash with Robert Whittaker. 'Borz' is gearing up for a pivotal showdown against the former middleweight champion in a five-round co-main event at UFC 308, taking place this Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Chimaev employs an explosive, grappling-centric fighting style that smothers opponents with relentless pressure. The undefeated Chechen is confident that this same approach will allow him to dismantle 'The Reaper' effortlessly.

In the lead-up to UFC 308, Chimaev acknowledged Whittaker's skills but firmly stated that his exceptional wrestling would give him the upper hand in controlling the Australian on the ground:

"Robert has been a champion and one of the best guys at the top. But I don’t care about this. In the war, doesn’t matter, you die. Why should I be worried about him? I’m a complete MMA fighter. I am the best wrestler in the UFC. He needs to worry about my wrestling, and my right hand can knock this guy out."

Check out Khamzat Chimaev's comments below (15:30):

'Borz' and Whittaker were initially set to headline UFC Saudi Arabia in June. However, just a week before the event, Chimaev had to withdraw due to significant health concerns. His last appearance in the octagon was in October 2023, where he secured a majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.

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Khamzat Chimaev enlists Salim Nutsalkhanov to sharpen wrestling skills ahead of UFC 308

The matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker holds crucial stakes in determining the next title contender, which is why 'Borz' is sparing no effort in his preparation for UFC 308.

Chimaev has previously mentioned that he drove himself to the point of complete fatigue in training, which eventually weakened his immune system and made him more vulnerable to illness. To counter this, 'Borz' has teamed up with legendary Russian wrestling coach Salim Noutsalkhanov, who has guided him through his UFC 308 fight camp while emphasizing recovery in their training sessions.

Chimaev also brought in Razambek Zhamalov to assist with his training camp for UFC 308. Zhamalov won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling for Uzbekistan in the 74kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.