Post-event analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have originally prepared for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed at the last moment. The theory, attributed to Vlad Matveev, questions how Chimaev could have such poor cardio despite working with top sports science specialists. The post also compares Van versus Taira to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for a younger generation, predicting they will fight again for the title. Additionally, Alexander Volkov received another close decision victory, his second consecutive controversial win, which the author views as "cashback" for his robbery against Ciryl Gane. The analysis reflects skepticism about Chimaev's preparation and conditioning given the resources available to him.
Post-event analysis circulating online has raised an unconfirmed theory that Khamzat Chimaev may have originally been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before a late change of plans altered his course. The speculation, attributed to analyst Vlad Matveev, centers on questions about Chimaev's cardio performance and why a fighter with access to elite sports science support would show such conditioning issues. Nothing has been officially confirmed, and the theory remains firmly in the realm of rumor.
The analysis also touched on the flyweight championship picture, drawing comparisons between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira to the long-running Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry, predicting the two will meet again for the title. Van, 24, is the reigning flyweight champion representing Myanmar out of 4oz. Fight Club. He carries a 17-2 record and produces one of the most prolific striking outputs in the division at 8.84 significant strikes landed per minute, with a 56 percent accuracy rate. Taira, 26, is ranked fifth at flyweight with an 18-2 record fighting out of Japan's The Blackbelt Japan. He is built around grappling, averaging 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, with a 60 percent striking accuracy that reflects his selective approach on the feet.
Separately, the analysis weighed in on Alexander Volkov's latest performance. The Russian heavyweight, ranked first in his division at 37 years old, earned another close decision victory — his second consecutive controversial win. The author framed it as a form of karmic balance for a prior decision loss to Ciryl Gane that many felt went the wrong way. Volkov carries a 40-11 record and stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, making him one of the most physically imposing fighters in the heavyweight division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's conditioning questions carry weight if a weight class change was genuinely considered
- A Van versus Taira rematch could define the flyweight division for years given both fighters' ages
- Volkov's continued presence at the top of heavyweight rankings keeps pressure on the division's title picture
