![Khamzat Chimaev (pictured) explains his calmer demeanour during UFC 308 fight week [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/5330c-17300361112701-1920.jpg)
![Khamzat Chimaev (pictured) explains his calmer demeanour during UFC 308 fight week [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Khamzat Chimaev's demeanor during the UFC 308 fight week was far more relaxed and humble than his previous fight weeks. With 'Borz' having long declared that he will "kill everybody" in the welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, his newfound attitude left fans and pundits with questions.
Chimeav too arrived with a new look, a full head of hair, as Chimaev's patended shaved head was nowhere to be seen, leaving fans to wonder what exactly had gone on in his life in the past year since his last fight.
But his UFC 308 performance proved that while 'Borz' might have changed outside the octagon, he was as good as ever, maybe even better inside. The surging middleweight contender took on Robert Whittaker in the co-main event, and submitted the former champion in Round 1.
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He appeared in front of the media following his win, where the 30-year old was asked about his change of attitude ahead of fighting Whittaker. He said:
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"I've always been like that. When somebody talks badly to you, I can't stand there and just listen to him. Rob [Whittaker] is a great guy, great human, a great champion, a family guy. I've always been looking up to that guy, he's so respectful. if somebody is respectful to me, I'm ten times more respectful back. If somebody bad mouths me, I am a dangerous guy for him."
Check out Khamzat Chimaev's comments below (2:20):
Khamzat Chimaev unphased about path to UFC title fight
Khamzat Chimaev sent shockwaves through the MMA world after submitting Robert Whittaker in Round 1 of their co-main event clash at UFC 308.
'Borz' has long been considered a future UFC champion, and his recent performance against the litmus test of the middleweight division, Whittaker, will leave little doubt about the Chechen's capacity for championship glory.
But with Sean Strickland expected to fight Dricus du Plessis in the next middleweight title fight, Chimaev was recently asked how he would feel if that fight was made official by the UFC.
During an interview with ESPN MMA after his win over 'The Reaper', he said:
"I don't care, I will wait. For me it doesn't matter, Sean or Dricus or [Israel Adesanya], it doesn't matter. Give me the money and the belt, I am fighting for money and for the belt."
Check out Khamzat Chimaev's comments below (4:18):
