In a new interview with Submission Radio, Khamzat Chimaev’s coach Andreas Michael gives his thoughts on the UFC 279 main event between Chimaev and Nate Diaz. A fight that some experts consider a mismatch, and a way for the organization to punish the Stockton fighter in his last bout.
However, The Allstars Training Center head coach would never underestimate a veteran like Diaz.
“It’s bullshit,” Michael said. “Pure bullshit. Like, Nate Diaz has fought and given Leon Edwards a run for his money. Like, alright, Leon Edwards was winning every round, but he gave Leon Edwards a tough fight. He’s at no means an easy opponent for us.”
“Conditioning to go ten rounds”
The former Swedish olympic boxing coach points out two areas where the Stockton fighter are especially dangerous.
“Nate Diaz has got the conditioning. He has got the conditioning to go like ten rounds, and he always keeps a steady tempo. So he grinds you down. And his boxing of course,” Michael said. “We are ready for that. Darren Till is a southpaw, tremendous striker, we got him helping us in the sparring.”
“I think it’s a good fight. It’s a good name, a veteran of the game. He’s fought everyone and anyone, and it is a good experience and they were not taking him lightly. I don’t care what anyone says, this is as if we’re fighting for the title.”
On August 20, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will defend his title against contender Leon Edwards, and in the middleweight division, champion Israel Adesany and his rival Alex Pereira will most likely fight before the end of the year.
The winners in these fights are possible opponents for Khamzat according to his coach.
“I think that we would like to, no me personally, I cannot talk about what Khamzat would like, but I would like to fight the winner of Leon or Usman,” Michael told Submission Radio. “That would be a very tough fight for both guys. The winner of that one, and then move up directly. And if Adesanya’s still the champion after he fights Pereira, which is a monster that guy, then we would fight the champ there, whoever is the champ there. I believe, in a perfect world for us, that’s how it would look. But like you know, fighting is unpredictable.”