Arman Tsarukyan says Khamzat Chimaev can swing from very funny to very quiet in a short time. Tsarukyan is helping UFC middleweight champion Islam Makhachev prepare for his title defense at UFC 328 and shared what he has seen of Chimaev behind the scenes.
Behind the scenes with Chimaev
Tsarukyan spoke about Chimaev in a new interview. He said the 31-year-old fighter can change his mood very quickly. One moment Chimaev can be the “funniest guy ever.” The next moment he can be “the scariest guy ever,” and he might not speak at all.
Tsarukyan told Patrick Bet-David: “You can see him once being the funniest guy ever. But you can see him in one hour; he can be the scariest guy ever. He can change his moods so fast… Maybe because we’re fighters. Some days, you cannot even talk to him. ‘How are you?’ ‘Good.’ That’s it, he doesn’t talk. Some days, he never stops; he can talk for three to four hours.”
Chimaev’s record and reputation
Khamzat Chimaev is already one of the most intimidating fighters in the sport. He has a perfect 15-0 record in professional MMA. He has beaten top opponents such as Dricus du Plessis, Robert Whittaker, Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Those wins helped build his reputation as a dominant and dangerous fighter in the Octagon.
UFC 328 context and Sean Strickland
The comments come as Islam Makhachev prepares to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Tsarukyan is part of Makhachev’s camp for that fight. The event name UFC 328 is confirmed in reports, and both camps are getting ready for the matchup.
Sean Strickland is known for being outspoken and for having an intense personality of his own. He is coming off a big TKO win over Anthony Hernandez in February. The source also notes Strickland has had two failed attempts against Dricus du Plessis in the past couple of years as he looks for another shot at the title.
What this could mean
Chimaev’s mood swings are mostly a character note, but they show how intense fighters can be behind closed doors. Whether this affects fights or camps is unclear. Teams often use different training partners and styles to prepare. Tsarukyan’s view gives fans a closer look at the personalities inside top camps.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | Undefeated, 15-0 |
| Sean Strickland | TKO win over Anthony Hernandez (February) |
| Islam Makhachev | Current UFC middleweight champion; preparing to defend title at UFC 328 |
Source: UFCcoverage
