Firas Zahabi has issued a public plea for Khamzat Chimaev to relocate his training to Montreal in the wake of Chimaev’s split decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
Chimaev dropped his middleweight title to Strickland in the headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., after a fight where he controlled the ground exchanges in Round 1 but appeared to fade in Round 2. Chimaev initially told Dana White he wanted to move up to light heavyweight, then later called for a rematch with Strickland.
Zahabi, who previously helped coach Georges St-Pierre, made his pitch directly and emphatically. "I'm begging you. Somebody get this out there," Zahabi said, before turning his message to Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan.
"Khamzat, come train with me. Come to Montreal. Come train with me. I promise you, if you come train with me, you're not going to fade. I promise you. Come and train with me. BringArman Tsarukyan. Khamzat Chimaev, Arman Tsarukyan, come train with me. Come see how we prepare to make sure that your fitness level will be better than ever, your striking will be sweeter than ever, your footwork will be sweeter than ever. I promise you."
Zahabi doubled down on his offer, adding, "If Khamzat Chimaev, you come and train with me, this will never happen to you again... Please let him know he's more than welcome, and I would love to have him as soon as possible training at my facility."
