Aug 15, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATES; Khamzat Chimaev during weigh ins for UFC 319 at Radius Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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Khamzat Chimaev Picks Sides; Promises To Corner This Fighter In A Potential Arman Tsarukyan vs Ilia Topuria Matchup!

Aug 15, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATES; Khamzat Chimaev during weigh ins for UFC 319 at Radius Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Loyalty in MMA can be tricky when you are friends with multiple elite fighters. Training camps overlap, sparring sessions create bonds, and genuine friendships form between competitors. But when those friends eventually have to fight each other, someone needs to choose sides. That awkward moment reveals who your true allies really are in this brutal business. Khamzat Chimaev recently found himself in exactly that position regarding two lightweight contenders.

The newly crowned middleweight champion has trained with both Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan at different points in his career. Both men are elite fighters in their own sense. But when push comes to shove, ‘Borz’ knows exactly where his loyalty lies.

Khamzat Chimaev Ready To Corner Arman Tsarukyan

Khamzat Chimaev says he would corner Arman Tsarukyan against Ilia Topuria if that fight ever materializes. The Chechen didn’t hesitate when discussing this hypothetical UFC matchup between his two friends. According to Chimaev, if Tsarukyan asked him to be in his corner, he simply couldn’t refuse that request. The bond between them runs too deep for any other answer.

“If Arman asks me to corner him against Topuria, I won’t be able to refuse because he is my friend. With Ilia, I communicate but we are not close friends,” said Chimaev via Aslanbek Badaev.

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Chimaev explained that while he previously trained with Topuria during their time together in Sweden, Tsarukyan is the closer friend. Being in someone’s corner isn’t just about holding their water bottle and giving advice between rounds. It’s about complete trust, shared sacrifice, and unwavering support when everything is on the line.

The friendship between Chimaev and Tsarukyan makes perfect sense when fans consider their backgrounds. They were together in the Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter. Also, Tsarukyan was in Chimaev’s corner at his title fight against Dricus Du Plessis. Also, both men come from the Caucasus region and share similar wrestling-heavy fighting styles. They understand each other’s mentality and approach to the sport on a fundamental level.

Chimaev’s public declaration about cornering Tsarukyan sends a message to the entire lightweight division. It shows that Arman has serious backing from one of the sport’s most feared fighters. Having Chimaev in your corner brings psychological warfare benefits beyond just tactical advice. Whether this fight between Topuria and Tsarukyan actually happens remains uncertain. But if it does materialize down the road, fans now know exactly where ‘Borz’ will be standing.

(Image Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Khamzat Chimaev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!