The fight game often shows us its glamorous side with its bright lights, roaring crowds, and victory celebrations. But behind the octagon lies a different battle, one fought in silence. Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated Chechen warrior who burst onto the UFC scene like a tornado, recently pulled back the curtain on his personal struggles.
In a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Chimaev revealed how depression had gripped him during his preparation for the Robert Whittaker fight. Gone was the usual intense demeanor and aggressive tone – instead, fans witnessed a more reflective, human side of the fighter who once claimed he would “kill everybody.”
“Well, you can say that my depression has disappeared. There were a lot of problems before, I solved a lot of things. Thank God, everything is fine now. I am human too. I also have my own problems. They needed to be solved. I got caught in depression and there was a lot going on. Well, now I’ve decided everything, Thank God.”
The revelation comes at a crucial time in Khamzat Chimaev’s career trajectory. After setting records for the fastest three-fight winning streak in modern UFC history, his path hasn’t been entirely smooth. Health issues, including a severe bout with COVID-19, forced him to withdraw from multiple fights between 2020 and 2021.
But now, Khamzat Chimaev has embraced a complete overhaul of his training approach as he gears up to fight Robert Whittaker. He has assembled a professional team, including doctors, nutritionists, and pharmacologists. ‘Borz’ is now feeling healthy, both physically and mentally, and is ready to show his skill this weekend.
Fight Fans Reacted To Khamzat Chimaev’s Depression Confession
‘Borz’ recently opened up about his battle with depression, and fans were shocked at the revelation. The bold and brash persona of the Chechen fighter was put on hold as he went into revealing the issues he faced.
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Fight fans took to social media, and the reactions started pouring in. Most fight fans offered their support and well wishes to Khamzat Chimaev. Others, however, were not so warm as they tore apart the Chechen for his previous mistakes. Several others were more interested in UFC 308 fight prediction rather than the revelation. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:
This confession didn’t just humanize Chimaev; it transformed the entire conversation around fighter mental health. In a sport filled with blood and broken bones, the hardest-hitting opponent will always be the mind. As time passes, more and more focus is put on the mental well-being of the fighter, as well as the physical.
Also Read: UFC 308 Fighter Khamzat Chimaev Clears Up Rumors About His Ban In The United States
