Khamzat Chimaev quickly became one of the hottest sensations in MMA after running through opponents in the UFC, and he could very well earn a shot at the welterweight belt with a UFC 273 win over Gilbert Burns on April 9.
Undefeated in 10 professional bouts and dominant in every victory so far, Chimaev recently partnered with Darren Till in training in Sweden, and extended an invitation for former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who is currently recovering from a leg break suffered in his most recent defeat to Dustin Poirier.
“If you want to come back we will help you, we are waiting for you in our camp,” Chimaev tweeted recently at McGregor.
“The notorious” hasn’t replied to the invitation. However, Chimaev’s jiujitsu coach Alan “Finfou” Nascimento stated on this week’s episode of MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocacao Franka , that Allstars Training Center is open to the Irish fighter, who currently fights from Straight Blast Gym, Ireland.
” If Conor could do that, it would be the most important thing that he does for his life right now,” Nascimento stated. It’s been done, Till. “Till has done it, man.”
“It’s like you’re starting from zero again, re-starting. [Till] said, ‘I need this.’ That’s not him just wanting to evolve, that’s him being humble and recognizing that, in order to continue doing what he loves, it’s time to get some fresh air. So, if Conor has that humility and decides to come train with us, I believe he has a lot to add and also learn.”
Till has reached a turning point in his career, having lost four out of five UFC fights. The UFC also dropped three of his previous UFC middleweight bouts. McGregor, who once had the UFC featherweight and lightweight titles, has only won once in more than five years, a 40-second knockout over Donald Cerrone that is sandwiched between defeats to Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC, plus a very lucrative boxing defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
” We have much to offer and Conor has lots to teach,” Nascimento stated. “Not only in the technique aspect, the striking and etc, but also, like I said, he’s very experienced. He has that ability and no one can take it away. It’s possible to learn great things from someone who is willing to listen to and comprehend everything that he has to say
“Finfou” said the gym has once welcomed many fighters that could one day meet in the UFC, like light heavyweights Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka, training under the same roof of Alexander Gustafsson, Ilir Latifi, Jimi Manuwa and Volkan Oezdemir.
“Great guys went there and the doors will always be open because they knew how to come, how to stay and how to leave,” he said. “If you come with humility, you’ll always be welcome. If you bring pride or lack of humility and want to be treated like a VIP, then we won’t accept you. It is essential that you are a part of the puzzle. We only ask that you keep your ego out of the equation and remain humble. You’ll always be welcome. Conor will make the final decision. Although Conor hasn’t yet responded, the invitation remains open. It’s up to him now.”
While Chimaev & Till train in Las Vegas together, Chimaev is finishing Chimaev’s camp in Florida for the upcoming fight with “Durinho”. Till has yet to book a fight since losing via submission to Derek Brunson in Sept. 2019. It was an amazing match for Nascimento to have both fighters working together.
“They are helping each other tremendously and have created a friendship that is beautiful to watch,” Nascimento said. It’s a brotherhood. To breathe fresh air, and to be near someone who is so hungry for victory was what Till had needed. The mental side of grappling, takedown and other aspects. He is more happy and excited when he trains. His character is exceptional, he’s humble and willing to help others, something that can be hard to find among people of his caliber. Because Till has so much experience with the UFC, he can teach Khamzat many things. They are helping each other and completing each other extraordinarily.”
