Fresh off a TKO victory against Israel Adesanya at UFC Seattle, which propelled him to the No. 6 middleweight ranking, Joe Pyfer has offered his strategy for defeating Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev previously claimed the middleweight championship at UFC 319, dominating Dricus du Plessis with his grappling for nearly 22 minutes.
The Chechen-born Emirati fighter is set to make his inaugural defense of the 185-pound title at UFC 328, facing off against his former training partner and now rival, Sean Strickland.
Many analysts have already shared their predictions for this middleweight title clash. Some argue that Sean “Tarzan” Strickland will pose a significant challenge to the undefeated Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev, citing Strickland’s strong takedown defense, advanced striking, and impressive stamina.
Conversely, a portion of the fanbase expects Chimaev to nullify Strickland’s approach using his dominant grappling and wrestling, similar to his performance against Du Plessis. Amidst these varied opinions, Joe Pyfer has now shared his perspective.
Joe Pyfer’s Strategy for Sean Strickland to Defeat Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328
Joe Pyfer suggests that Sean Strickland must create “chaos” in his fight against Khamzat Chimaev, preventing the champion from establishing control, whether through striking exchanges or by forcing the fight to the ground.
Pyfer emphasizes that Strickland’s primary goal should be to avoid takedowns during the initial ten minutes of the bout. He believes that if Chimaev becomes frustrated by this resistance, he will be easier to overcome. In an interview, Pyfer, also known as “Bodybagz,” elaborated:
“Initially, Khamzat Chimaev will focus on setting up his first takedown. His aim is to wrestle early and wear you down. For the first ten minutes of the fight, you need to engage fiercely and adjust your levels with him. Alternatively, maintain a low and grounded stance to prevent him from getting under you. If you succeed in this, you’ll have a strong chance of victory.”
This strategy aligns with the views of Sean Strickland’s coach, who also believes “Tarzan” must effectively counter Chimaev’s continuous wrestling attacks to disrupt his overall game plan.