Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev . The fight turned out to be brilliant, but not very competitive in terms of quotes: Diaz received a coefficient of about 7, and few could explain even in theory how Nate could win.
Then the news started to appear. First, it was as if the teams of Diaz and Khamzat staged clashes before the press conference, and Chimaev himself hit another tournament participant, Kevin Holland (23 wins, 7 losses).
After 2 p.m., it was learned that Chimaev could not meet the category limit (up to 77 kg) and showed 80.97 kg on the scale. Diaz made weight and pulled out of the fight. As a result, Chimaev was offered to fight the same Kevin Holland in the intermediate category (up to 81.6 kg).
At Rivals, Nate Diaz suddenly pulled Tony Ferguson out of the co-main event. Here I have to admit that over the past 4-5 years they were able to lead any UFC tournament and give it a brilliant poster.
No one has commented on Chimaev’s failed weigh-in, and we called Las Vegas to check out any rumors about this tournament. We are talking about Nikolai Aleksakhin (24-7 in MMA), who is second to Denis Tyululin, another Russian fighter, at this tournament.
– The first big news of the tournament was the fight between the teams of Chimaev and Diaz on the evening of the eighth day, Las Vegas time. What did you personally see of the events described?
– It’s really not clear about that. We were now seated before the weigh-in and spoke with the translator who was there. He says there was a fight, but there was no such thing as a hundred people and everyone is fighting. It was like two people here, two there. And because there were three or four skirmishes, it seemed like a lot of people were involved. As he said, there were about 50 people on Diaz’s side and, say, 30 on Chimaev’s side. And that’s where the conflict happened.
– Do you know the translator who will work at the tournament and who saw this conflict himself?
– Yes, he seemed to be there, but in general there is no video, nothing else, so even small suspicions arise. Now, when there was a weigh-in (24 hours after the alleged fight. – “”), they were all separated from each other: Chimaev, Diaz and Holland.
– Can we then clarify once again what it sounded like from the words of the translator?
– He said there were about 50 people on one side and about 30 on the other. Something happened there, but there was no mass brawl. There were only two guards at that time and that was it. They thought they were in control, but no one was in control.
“It’s just someone writes about 70 people who moved in with Nate Diaz. Have you seen anything like that?
– Now we were at the weigh-in, in principle, only one athlete and a second are allowed there. I myself saw only that with Diaz, Chimaev and Holland there were about five guards each.
– There is a story that Chimaev hit Holland before the press conference.
I can’t say anything, I haven’t seen it.
Have you seen any secret videos that someone showed on the phone in Vegas?
Yes, we ourselves were interested in how it turned out. There was a fight, but nobody saw anything.
– Did you meet the Diaz team at the hotel? Because it seems there are really 30 people there.
– If I understand correctly, they rent accommodation somewhere separately. We saw each other when we stopped at the mall and met Nate there, but there were five people with him.
– Next story – Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t gained weight, and Mini-Khabib is now the main witness in this case, a teenage girl known as a fan of Khabib, who came to his fights with a hat in 2016-2018.
– Chimaev and I crossed paths, we saw each other several times a week at the UFC PI (UFC training center in Vegas). It was obvious he was working out, driving weight. At the hotel, we passed each other several times in the elevator.
– It happens that the fighters see each other on the last day just in the race halls or in the common saunas.
– As I understand it, they did it somewhere separately as participants in the main card. We only met Li Jingliang.
– How would you try to explain why Khamzat could not gain weight and weighed 3 kg.
“Actually, it’s a mystery to me too. Especially knowing how he trains… Maybe something went wrong, the body failed and that’s it. When we got together crossed in the gym, I saw how he was training.
Did he actually lift weights in those workouts?
– Well, of course, yes. It’s just that here you need to understand that everyone can have a different strategy – someone usually leaves seven kilograms for the last day.
– Now there are intense fights in the comments – Should Chimaev fight at 77 kg. On the one hand, he is tall for this weight (187 cm), on the other hand, he does not look very tall for this category. You’re in the same weight – is Chimaev really big by welterweight standards?
– We trained together in Thailand, it can be noted that he is tall, with long limbs. I think he drives 90 kilograms, maybe weighs a little more. But there are guys who look even bigger than him. With some you get on the elevator – just huge. Do you think he can fight at that weight?
In principle, if we compare it with Holland (the new rival of Chimaev, who replaced Nate Diaz, after Chimaev did not gain weight, also performs in the category up to 77 kg. – “” ), then Holland is taller, but Khamzat has a better developed shoulder girdle.
– You trained with Chimaev. What did you think?
– We didn’t have a fight, but he is very strong in wrestling. Breathe well. It is awesome. We fought close to the net, we feel that the skills are good.
– Did you imagine how Diaz could beat Chimaev?
– I don’t even know … Probably, the maximum he could count on if the fight lasted five rounds, he could try to breathe Chimaev. But it’s also hard to believe. It all sounded like a “missed match” (the slang name for fights where one of the participants has almost no chance. – “”). The fight between Ferguson and Diaz that has appeared now looks more interesting, as does the fight between Chimaev and Holland.
Have you seen Tony Ferguson?
– Yes, we just had training time according to the schedule nearby, we passed each other several times. We also saw each other at the race, but, if I understand correctly, he did not run much.
Does he really walk around with a baseball for anything?
– I haven’t seen him with the ball, but he trains with sunglasses inside.
I saw how Ferguson works his legs: he has a very interesting technique, with elements of a kind of Chinese Wing Chun. I can’t tell if he’s dying or not, if he’s working for the camera or whatever, but he moves on his own. Almost dancing while everyone is chasing the weight.
– You are seconding Denis Tyulyulin. His rival Jamie Pickett is not Russia’s most famous fighter. Tell us what you found out about him.
– To be honest, I didn’t know him either before the fight with Denis. He is such a strong middle peasant, a normal and adequate adult man. We even spoke at the official weigh-in when we walked out.
He fought at 93kg, now he’s down to 84kg, so he’s big for middleweight, I think he runs from 100kg. That is, it turns out about 15 kg take off. We sat together in the sauna, did weights. And, despite the weight of the body, it is very mobile, with long levers, that is, you will have to approach it.
– Did you expect, if necessary, to become a substitute in this tournament?
– I have contractual obligations with the PFL, so I certainly wouldn’t come out as a substitute. My contract is automatically renewed for the next season unless you are notified of the termination. They want to see me next season and won’t let me go anywhere.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
