“It's like Mariano Rivera” – Sean Strickland Alinea coach Khamzat Chimaev's style with the competition of Yankees legend

It may be that baseball and mixed martial arts do not seem to have much in common but Yankees of New York Legend Mariano Rivera was compared to the UFC's middle weight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, by Eric Nicksick, a well -known MMA coach. Nicksick, who operates outside of Xtreme Couture, is better known for coaching former UFC indisputable champions, Sean Strickland and Francis Ngannou.

Nicksick made his intriguing comparison of Rivera-Chimaev during his interview with George and Brian Garcia by MMA Junkie Radio. Nicksick was asked how to prepare for a fight against Chimaev, who recently won the half -weight title by defeating Dricus du Pessis at UFC 319.

“I think they are several things,” said Nicksick (time mark: 8:15). “I think if you can also learn what Khamzat does very well and tie his level changes in his striking, in his adjustment offensively, and being able to take a little of this and apply it to some of your fighters that adapt. And also what do you do if you struggle for such a boy?”

Nicksick then reflected on a key moment during Chimaev's struggle with Dricus du Plessis, imagining in the “Stillknock” corner. As Du Pessis spent much of the combination trapped under the ground on the ground, Nicksick admitted that it would have been difficult for any fighter as a significant offense in this position.

“This is the difficult part when you have a boy like Khamzat, where he can dictate where the fight goes and where the struggle occurs,” added Nicksick (time mark: 9:03). “You know it comes. It's like Mariano Rivera. It's a cutter, it's a four seams and you just have to try to hit it.”

During his legendary career with the Yankees, Rivera built his dominion around the cutter. Although he was sometimes mixed in rapid four-sided and two-sided balls, the beaters constantly struggled to solid contact against him.

Similarly, Chimaev's biggest weapon in Octagon is his relentless struggle. Despite the endless hours of tape available to study opponents, none has been able to constantly stop their retirement, making it as inevitable in MMA and Rivera in the mound.

Khamzat Chimaev's opponent launched the first playing ground on Wrigley Field

Khamzat Chimaev's Middle Half Weight Title Struggle against Dricus du Pessis was held on August 16 in the United Center in Chicago. While Chimaev formed in the studio of Santo Performance in California, Du Pessis found time to explore Chicago.

The then -weighing champion Mig UFC launched the first ceremonial ground in Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago cubes Game on August 4 at Wrigley Field. The hilarious interaction of the South Fighter -African with the cube pet, Clark, had gone viral on social media at that time.

The 31 -year -old talked about his experience in Wrigley Field during his Interview with Ariel Helwani On August 7.

“It was one of the most fantastic things I've ever done,” said du Pessis (time mark: 2:14). “It was really a prominent element for me, in terms of things I have done out of sport. It was crazy.”

It was the first live baseball game that Du Plessis saw. He felt that the experience was incredible and admitted that he had become a basketball fan. He also promised that he would like to see a live game again after his fight.