Jorge Masvidal is not a fan of UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
While speaking to top contender Joe Pyfer, Masvidal took aim at Chimaev’s fighting style. Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was especially criticized for his title-winning performance over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, where he took him down 12 times and controlled him for more than 21 minutes.
“None of that crotch sniffing, just sit there and sniff crotches,” Masvidal said of Chimaev on his “Death Row MMA Podcast.” “You have a chance to strike, but you’re just holding the guy down because you’re so scared they’re going to get away when you’re just at a halfway position just holding on for dear life. You’re not advancing, you’re not causing damage, and all you’re doing is literally holding. Yeah, you’re a better wrestler, but that’s not fighting.”
Masvidal weighs in on Chimaev vs. Strickland
Chimaev makes his first title defense against Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) in the UFC 328 headliner May 9 in Newark, N.J. (Paramount+). Masvidal thinks Strickland has the ability to resist the champion on the ground.
“I’ve been in the room with Strickland a couple of times when he’s going with good wrestlers himself, and he has a very good understanding of an overhook, using the fence to get back to his feet,” Masvidal said. “He has very good hips, he’s not easy to take down, but he’s even harder to hold down. I think this is going to be the first guy that actually challenges Chimaev in that realm. Even if he gets a takedown, he’s not just going to get to catch his breath.
“He’s going to get the takedown, and he’s going to have to work even harder to hold a guy down like Strickland. I’ve seen Strickland with All-Americans, with national champions in the room, and just be able to get away from them. He has a good work ethic. He doesn’t get tired, and he’s constantly putting attempts to get back up. I’ve seen him get away from a lot of good guys, and he has that American fundamental wrestling where it’s collegiate stuff, you don’t get away, guys are going to hold you down indefinitely. Sean knows how to get away.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jorge Masvidal isn’t a fan of Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘crotch sniffing’
