The fight game can be unforgiving, especially when the fighter’s own body becomes the opponent. Khamzat Chimaev recently found himself in this frustrating position. The undefeated fighter had been training for what many considered his toughest test yet: a showdown with former champion Robert Whittaker in Saudi Arabia this past June. But life had other plans, and he was forced out.
What started as a promising training camp quickly turned into a mysterious health nightmare. Chimaev revealed that despite sharing meals with his entire team, he alone fell ill. This led to hospital visits and him being forced to withdraw from the fight.
“The last three weeks, my immunity goes down…All the guys ate the same food [but] only me got sick. I was in the hospital for a couple of days. I came out and started training again, and the same s**t happened again,” said Chimaev in a recent UFC 308 Countdown video.
Photos of a gaunt-looking Khamzat Chimaev in the hospital circulated online, causing fans to worry about whether he will ever return. The doctors prescribed complete rest and a break from the gym. Following their orders, ‘Borz’ retreated to the mountains to take a step back.
Now, he is fully recovered and scheduled to face Whittaker at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. Khamzat Chimaev seems to have emerged stronger from this health scare. The mystery illness remains unexplained, but with changes in his training and workout routine, he has had a good camp so far. Fans are highly anticipating watching him after almost a year away from fighting!
Robert Whittaker Reveals His Confidence Going Against Khamzat Chimaev
‘The Reaper’ has been tearing through the middleweight division like a man possessed since losing his crown. Fresh off two impressive victories in 2024, including a spectacular knockout of Ikram Aliskerov, he has his sights set on derailing the Chimaev hype train at UFC 308.
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Whittaker exuded the kind of confidence that comes from facing the who’s who of MMA. The man has squared off against the division’s scariest strikers, most relentless wrestlers, and everything in between. And now, he is ready to take on the Boogeyman of the middleweight division.
“I feel great coming into this fight. I’m really happy where I am physically, mentally. I couldn’t be more ready to beat him up… I have all the motivation in the world. I’ve got a bunch of kids back home that expect me to do what I do and go home,” said Whittaker via UFC 308 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1
Whittaker’s confidence is not arrogance. He acknowledged the threat Khamzat Chimaev poses. He knows that it could end badly for him if he slips up against the Chechen, but his confidence in himself is unshaken as he prepares for battle at UFC 308.
