Khamzat Chimaev has successfully made it to fight week and the likelihood of pulling out seems unlikely. So most likely we will be seeing Chimaev at UFC 308 for his scheduled fight against Robert Whittaker. The bout was supposed to happen earlier this year but Chimaev had to pull out due to illness. Instead Whittaker ended up fighting Ikram Aliskerov and finished him in round 1. Regardless the fight has been rescheduled and we are so close to seeing this great matchup.
During this fight week people have been commenting on how Chimaev seems to have a slightly different disposition. Chimaev has appeared quite chilled out and very happy during this fight week. Usually Chimaev brings a level of intensity into fight week but this week has been a little different. Chimaev revealed why his disposition has been a little different in recent media and interviews.
Khamzat Chimaev Opens Up About Depression Struggles
In interviews with adam.zuba and and CrashMMA Borz opened up on the struggles he’s been having outside the cage. The interview with adam.zuba came out first and addressed Khamzat Chimaev’s disposition change.
The interviewer commented on Khamzat’s positivity and how he’s been looking quite happy this fight week. Khamzat’s said in response with a smile, “I can say my depression is gone. I had a lot of problems I dealt with them thanks to God.” quite a dramatic reveal. Many know of Khamzat’s physical health struggles outside the cage but this is one of the first time we’re hearing of mental struggles. This isn’t surprising given the stigma around mental health particularly in the fighting sphere but now he’s revealed his struggles. Again Khamzat having struggles also isn’t surprising given also the health issues and how that has interfered with his career and identity.
Khamzat continued saying, “I am just a human I also can have problems. Sometimes you need to think about solve them you catch depression A lot happened. Thank God it’s gone now I have a new team, I have new doctors, and pharmacologists I never had such a team before. I never even took vitamins before. I was like a street fighter just training and fighting I wasn’t a professional. You can say I was playing with it.”
He wasn’t specific about his depression but it is clear he had issues. But, thankfully he has seemingly overcome the struggle. However, Borz did give us a peak behind the curtain regarding his set up. And his set up does reveal why he may have had so many health struggles previously not having many doctors or other professionals involved in his team. And given his already somewhat compromised immunity no wonder he was getting so ill.
Chimaev’s Depression
So the first interview was focused on Chimaev’s mental and physical struggles and how those have been overcome. The next interview with even more recently with CrashMMA was more personal .
Here the interviewer brought up how Khamzat had said he was depressed asking him to elaborate. Chimaev responded saying, “You know it’s hard to move from other country to different country. You move your stuff you change your bank account lot of different things and still have to train and change team and coaches. I had my family move family to different country and you still have to be in the gym twice a day you know. So that was too much.”
In short Khamzat had a lot of external things going on. We know that he was previously based in Sweden, then went to the U.A.E, and then to Russia for this training camp. With all that traveling comes complications and technicalities that come with that. He also mentions his family for the first time and having to move them as well. This combined with his training was too much for him.
Familial Struggles
The interviewer asked if after this fight would he go back to Russia. Chimaev replied saying, “No I go back to Sweden my son has one surgery he has second surgery but everything’s good thank God. After that my son will be healthy so.” The interviewer then asked for his son’s age Khamzat said, “One and a half yeah, only one.” After that bombshell the interviewer asked how is it being a dad. Chimaev said, “It’s difficult, so fun”.
Chimaev was then asked about the type of surgery which Khamzat gave a response to. He said, “He has one kidney, some problem I don’t know what calls that in English. Also they say usually a lot of kids has it you know. So, thank God he’s healthy he’s speaking now. He’s going running, happy.”
This is quite the bombshell to drop that he has a sick son. Previously Chimaev has never made mention of a son or a wife but apparently Borz is a father now. This would also explain the depression having a sick child is most parent’s worst nightmare. And no doubt his son’s health was on his mind but now his son is healthier he’s happier.
These two interviews really gave an interesting insight to Khamzat Chimaev’s life and the struggles he has been facing. But now with those struggles seemingly settled he is full of life and happiness. And come Saturday he will be ready to face Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
