Count middleweight Darren Stewart amongst of us that judge Khamzat Chimaev may perhaps well be the next plentiful component within the UFC.
For the duration of a fresh interview with “AbzTalks,” Stewart shared miniature print of a prior coaching session with the quick-rising Chechen contender, in which “The Dentist” says he was once in actual fact the recipient of some unplanned dental procedures, courtesy of Chimaev.
“I know other folks sit there and order he hasn’t fought determined other folks,” Stewart stated of Chimaev. “He hasn’t but. But hang here, bro, the fellow took a filling out of my teeth, accurate by cranking my neck.
“He’s so tough, bruv. You may perhaps presumably presumably perhaps presumably moreover sit there and order, ‘It’s no longer about strength,’ and this. Brother, he’s so technical and so tough.”
Chimaev, obviously, is one in all the UFC’s breakout stars of 2020, picking up dominant wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Rhys McKee and John Phillips in a span of accurate a miniature bit over two months.
Stewart frolicked at Allstars Gym in Sweden forward of Chimaev’s octagon debut, so he had a preview of what was once to come.
“I was once grappling with him, and my ear ripped,” Stewart stated. “Then he had to come build tape around my head. It was once inflamed.”
Chimaev (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is slated to face perennial welterweight contender Leon Edwards (18-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), for the time being sitting at No. 9 within the most up-to-date USA TODAY Sports actions/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, within the principle event of an upcoming UFC Fight Night event on Jan. 20 in Abu Dhabi.
Enjoy Stewart, “Rocky” moreover lives and trains within the U.K. Their paths haven’t crossed within the gymnasium, nonetheless Stewart stated he respects Edwards and has heard nothing nonetheless accurate kind things about his abilities, including from Edwards’ brother, most up-to-date Bellator contender Fabian Edwards.
“I’m no longer asserting Leon can’t beat him,” Stewart stated. “We haven’t considered him fight other folks adore that. … It’s going to be a accurate kind one.”
Meanwhile, Stewart (12-6-1 MMA, 5-6-1 UFC) moreover desires to create it determined that it wasn’t all one-draw traffic when he was once on the mats with Chimaev.
“Now not adore I didn’t give him back nothing,” Stewart stated. “I’m no longer asserting he beat me up. I gave it back to him.”
That stated, Stewart desires to create it very determined whilst you happen to elect to write off Chimaev at this level in his profession, you perform so at your web probability.
“I’ve considered what he does,” Stewart stated. “He’s no longer a man to mess with. But on this sport, yeah, MMA is MMA, and something else can happen. So I’ve heard from Fabian that Leon is a gruesome man, and I’ve considered that Khamzat is a gruesome man, so it’s going to be a accurate kind matchup.
“The unfortunate component is (Chimaev) hasn’t fought no one, nonetheless then what perform you need him to purchase out? You may perhaps presumably presumably perhaps presumably moreover most productive fight who’s in front of you, so yeah, I’m anticipating that one.”
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog dwelling. We don’t earn it overly excessive, and neither may perhaps presumably presumably perhaps moreover merely aloof you. When you come complaining to us that something you study here is no longer inviting-hitting news, demand to have the earlier sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
