[embedded content]
Eric Nicksick believes all UFC middleweights need to start adapting their training for new champion Khamzat Chimaev, whether they are in camp to face him or not.
Nicksick was watching closely as Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) put on an all-time dominant performance against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 this month to claim the 185-pound belt. The Xtreme Couture head coach was impressed with what he saw and also admits it’s daunting.
Chimaev has put together a skillset that no one has been able to figure out, and Nicksick’s mind was working as he saw Du Plessis fail to come up with answers.
“What do you do if you fight a guy like that? There was a moment when I was watching the fight where I was trying to put myself in DDP’s coach’s shoes and what adjustments are you going to make in these positions,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie Radio. “It’s certainly a position you don’t want to be in where it’s like, ‘F*ck, this is one-way traffic.’ How can you create some opportunities for your fighter? A similar way I felt with Roman (Dolidze) and ‘Fluffy’ (Hernandez). You have to try to create something to get the band playing, get some offense on our side.
“That’s the tough part when you have a guy like Khamzat, who can dictate where the fight goes and where the fight takes place. You know it’s coming. It’s like Mariano Rivera. It’s a cutter, or it’s a four-steamer. You just got to try to hit it. When you go back to the drawing board with Dricus’ camp, maybe it’s just more situation sparring of tough positions, shark tanks, practicing your get-ups and things like that. But good luck, man. That’s going to be the task that a lot of us at 185 are going to have to deal with if you’re at that point to fighting Khamzat.”
Nicksick coaches former UFC middleweight champ Sean Strickland, who could some day find himself sharing the octagon with Chimaev. The two have training history and have also traded verbal and social media shots over the years.
Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC), who is currently serving a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, has made it clear he thinks he’s the one to beat Chimaev but will have to win at least one fight before he gets an opportunity to prove it.
Even though that could put a Chimaev vs. Strickland fight more than a year down the line, Nicksick said it’s wise to start preparing for the champion’s game now. He also said he would expect anyone in a similar position to be doing the same.
“Let’s say Sean has a fight or two before we get a crack at Khamzat,” Nicksick said. “During that timeline, you definitely want to start to implement some things that are going to negate that wrestling or build on to if you do eventually fight ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez or Khamzat or Reinier de Ridder. A lot of those guys have the same sort of pedigree, if you will, with Khamzat being at the top of that skillset. You want to start adding those attributes to your camp whether you’re fighting him or not.”
