Joe Rogan breaks down why Khamzat Chimaev struggled to finish Gilbert Burns at UFC 273: "Gilbert is tough as f**k"

Joe Rogan believes that a multitude of factors made the Gilbert Burns fight one of the toughest tests of Khamzat Chimaev's career.

During episode #2220 of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Rogan and his guests Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin discussed whether Chimaev's wrestling would hold up against the likes of Dricus du Plessis, especially considering the Chechen-born UAE national's close fight with Burns at UFC 273.

The MMA commentator, however, reminded his guests that Chimaev vs. Burns took place at welterweight and not middleweight, which seems to be 'Borz's' natural weight class.

Watch Chimaev vs. Burns below:

Rogan also believes that Burns was close to his prime and one of the best 170-pounders in the world at the time of the fight.

The sportscaster pointed out that 'Durinho' being a world champion in jiu-jitsu would've made it challenging for Chimaev to dominate him on the ground, as he had done with his previous opponents. Rogan added:

"Gilbert is tough as f**k... Gilbert is a little older now, but back then he was really in his prime, or close to it and he is just that f**king good. That's why that fight was so close. Gilbert, especially in that fight, he was that good. It was a war."

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (3:15:23):

This past weekend at UFC 308, Chimaev dominated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker to earn a first-round submission win.

While Sean Strickland has been promised the next crack at champion du Plessis, 'Borz' might be the favorite to face the winner of the matchup if his recent performance didn't put him above the American in the pecking order.

---

Joe Rogan calls Khamzat Chimaev "more dominant" than Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khamzat Chimaev's recent win over Robert Whittaker has the MMA world buzzing, with Joe Rogan even claiming that 'Borz' might eclipse the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of dominance.

Nurmagomedov's undefeated run in the UFC lightweight division is considered one of the most dominant in the history of the sport and 'The Eagle' is widely regarded as one of the most prolific wrestlers to have ever graced the octagon.

Chimaev's recent win has, however, got Rogan thinking.

During the podcast episode, he suggested that the grappling prowess 'Borz' showed against Whittaker might be more dominant than the Dagestani's:

"Maybe even more intense, maybe even more dominant. To do that to Whittaker, a guy who was a world champion. Even the Conor [McGregor- Khabib Nurmagomedov] fight, it took a while before he [Nurmagomedov] overwhelmed him... The beginning of the fight was more competitive. This was just an overwhelming victory."