Luke Rockhold has offered insights into Khamzat Chimaev’s training and mindset ahead of UFC 328.
Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion, has been training alongside Chimaev at Santo Studio in Newport Beach, California. The training sessions also include UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Rockhold Praises Chimaev’s Abilities
Rockhold ranked Chimaev alongside some of his best-ever training partners. These include names such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez and Islam Makhachev.
“He’s special,” Rockhold said. “He hits very hard. He’s so unique in his realm, so he’s going to stick to what he does best, but if he can relax — and I think last time out [against Dricus du Plessis], there was a lot of pressure on him to win. This time, I think you’ll see a lot more free Khamzat. And hopefully, he’ll get those takedowns. And if he loses a few takedowns, he can show his stand-up, because he’s very dangerous on the feet. It’s just a matter of putting it all together and relaxing to the process.
“I think that’s the biggest key. If he loses some takedowns, he’s gotta relax. If he relaxes among that process, he’s going to get more takedowns and be effective on the feet. He just can’t rush it.”
Pressure on Chimaev
Rockhold believes that Chimaev’s previous performance was affected by external pressures. He suggested this pressure came from a ‘Chechen ruler’.
“I think the pressure was from some Chechen ruler [Ramzan Kadyrov] and then the people behind him — there’s a lot of pressure,” Rockhold said. “To go back [to Chechnya], who knows what it’d be like if he didn’t bring that title back home? So he is the champion now, and I think he’s got a chance [at UFC 328] to go out there and do his thing.”
Chimaev is set to defend his title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.
Rockhold’s History with Strickland
Rockhold revealed his negative feelings towards Strickland. He recalled a prior booking to fight Strickland in 2021, which was cancelled due to Rockhold’s back injury.
Rockhold said they first met in Rockhold’s former gym, RVCA, where he immediately soured on Strickland for being an overly aggressive training partner.
“Sean is truly a piece of s***,” Rockhold said.
“He’s just not a good person. … He has no regards for human beings, especially on somebody else’s turf. So I just don’t appreciate people like that, and people like that who never have gotten over their childhood traumas, seemingly, who continually voice — it’s an obvious portrayal of what that man is and what he’s been through, and what he does face and what he doesn’t face.”
Rockhold expects a different approach from Chimaev against Strickland.