Khamzat Chimaev Goes Into Isolation Ahead of UFC 319 Showdown
Khamzat Chimaev is shutting the world out. Quite literally. The Chechen-born UFC star is taking no chances ahead of his blockbuster clash with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319.
Health has been his Achilles heel in the past, and this time, “Borz” is determined to walk into the Octagon without a hitch.
Chimaev’s history with illness is no secret. A brutal battle with COVID-19 in 2020 almost ended his career before it truly began.
Since then, setbacks have followed, from training injuries to a sudden hospital visit just days before his UFC Saudi Arabia bout with Robert Whittaker. He still fought. He still won. But the risks are fresh in his mind.
Many insiders believe his relentless, high-intensity training leaves him open to illness. This time, the approach is different. Chimaev has split his camp between his usual base and Southern California, linking up with elite conditioning coach Sam Calavitta.
Calavitta is reportedly tracking his recovery like a hawk, ensuring “Borz” doesn’t push past the point of no return.
But the adjustments go far beyond training. Speaking to ESPN, Chimaev revealed that he has all but vanished from public life, refusing unnecessary interactions to avoid catching even the mildest cold. Fans will have to wait.
“It’s hard to go out to the people,” Khamzat explained. “I like the people when they love me and come forth and take pictures, but this fight I have to be ready.
Don’t get sick. [I have to] show up to the fight and give to my fans the thing they love. That’s why I’m just saying to the boys, if we go to the mall, if somebody sick is a big fan comes for me, maybe we get that sickness, so I have to be careful for that.”
On rare occasions, he’ll escape to the beach or share a quiet outing with teammates. But even then, the mantra is simple, minimise risk. “Better to stay home,” he added.
With just over a week until fight night, Chimaev is in peak condition. Yet, the final hurdle remains, the weight cut. Those last few days will test his body more than anything else. Whether his hermit-like discipline pays off will be known only when the cage door closes in Las Vegas.
