Analyst questions Chimaev's conditioning ahead of potential light heavyweight move

Post-fight analysis suggests Sean Strickland's trash talk did significant damage to Khamzat Chimaev's aura, particularly after Chimaev repeatedly showed friendliness before being dominated in later rounds. One theory proposes Chimaev had been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute, which could explain his poor cardio despite working with top-level sports science professionals. The analyst also praised the Van versus Taira fight as a modern classic comparable to Moreno-Figueiredo, predicting they will meet again for a title. Additionally, Alexander Volkov received favorable judging for the second consecutive fight, benefiting from what some considered robbery in his previous bout with Ciryl Gane. The analysis questions whether Chimaev's preparation was compromised by last-minute changes to his fight plan.