Arman Tsarukyan defends coach against criticism for Khamzat Chimaev’s loss

Arman Tsarukyan has defended strength and conditioning coach Sam Calavitta against criticism following Khamzat Chimaev's upset middleweight title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 last month. The loss prompted questions about Chimaev's preparation, particularly after he appeared visibly fatigued during a sloppy takedown attempt in the second round and showed signs of a difficult weight cut.

Tsarukyan (23-3) disputed the narrative that Calavitta overtrained Chimaev, noting that his final session at their training facility lasted only 15 to 20 minutes. Speaking on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Tsarukyan argued that elite athletes must take personal responsibility for managing their own fatigue and workload. "At this level, you're a professional. You gotta control yourself. If you feel tired, just skip the training," he explained.

TJ Dillashaw, a former bantamweight champion who trains under Calavitta, suggested that Chimaev's weight-cut problems stemmed from working with someone outside the team rather than the coaching staff at their gym. The incident highlights ongoing debate within MMA about responsibility for fighter preparation and performance.