Khamzat Shimaev won Robert whittaker No. UFC 308. Photo: Instagram / UFC
Khamzat Shimaev intensified the rivalry with Caio Borralho by posting a photo on his social media this Monday (21) in which he applies a rear naked choke to his former training partner. The image appears amid mutual provocations about a fight for the UFC's interim middleweight belt (up to 83,9 kg), after an injury to Dricus du Plessis.
The relationship between Chimaev and Borralho, previously marked by partnership, took on competitive overtones after the Brazilian publicly challenged the Russian to a fight for the interim belt in the category. The provocation occurred after rumors that the champion Dricus du Plessis would be injured and unable to defend the title at UFC 317, scheduled for June.
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“If they give me that fight, I’ll definitely do it. I trained with him for about five weeks in Sweden and then in Las Vegas. I know his system,” Borralho said in an interview with the 'Jaxxon Podcast'.
The photo of the rear naked choke, recorded in previous training sessions, appears to be yet another layer in the 'psychological battle'. Chimaev responded to the attacks with irony. In a comment on a post by Borralho, he promised that he would be able to 'beat him 100 out of 100 times'.
The two athletes crossed paths in 2022, when Borralho traveled to Sweden to perfect his grappling with Chimaev. At the time, the Brazilian praised the 'Wolf's' toughness and technical quality in training. The partnership even resulted in a joint celebration after the 'Nerd's' victory in UFC 280, in front of Makhmud Muradov, when the Swede climbed into the octagon to celebrate with his teammate.
Chimaev publishes photo in which he finishes Caio Borralho in training
Khamzat Shimaev shares a photo of him submitting Caio Borralho
@KChimaev ▫️ pic.twitter.com/acLZpwkM1u
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 21, 2025
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