By james art Gilbert Burns was surprised to see Khamzat Chimaev in the role of the nice guy ahead of his UFC 308 fight against Robert Whittaker. The Russian showed a side of himself that no one believed existed. “Borz” was respectful, but also not without meaning. On the contrary, Chimaev praised Whittaker several times before breaking his jaw in the Octagon.
The fact that Chimaev let his fists do the talking in the actual fight and behaved quite well in the build-up, refraining from his usual antics to spice things up, left Burns confused.
Durinho had to decipher the change in Chimaev, whether it was refreshing or not.
“I’m a good person too… He was stretched out all the time, looking at me, appreciating me…. I just think (about the Whittaker fight) that he just tried to be more relaxed… A lot of people doubted him.” Burns said of Give Me the Money, podcast.
Coming into UFC 308, there were many doubts about Chimaev’s form. Although the Russian ended up winning, he endured close battles against Burns himself and Kamaru Usman before that.
These bouts were followed by a period of struggling with ill health. It seems people are starting to lose faith in the ‘Borz’ and its fighting qualities. Perhaps that was why he didn’t speak, but let his performance convey a larger message.
Another reason — big — is the maturity with which he finds himself after becoming a father. This was stated by Chimaev himself fatherhood changed him a lot.
Chimaev reveals why his personality changed
Chimaev was a brash, loud, trash-talking fighter known for his dominating approach in the Octagon. His personality and his fighting style complemented each other. And fans loved every bit of it.
“Borz” showed a different side of him against Whittaker — certainly not in the Octagon, but outside of it. Chimaev talks about the reason for this transformation of personality.
“I used to be crazy, just doing things…now you do anything before you think about it, like if my son grows up, how will he see me. How will he think of me. What kind of man is my father?’ he said in an episode of Eye AM podcast.
Chimaev does not want his son to perceive him as a “bully”. And this change made him give off a relatively calm and composed aura. Can we expect him to show nothing but respect to his opponents from now on? Well, yes, but only until he enters the cage.