Daniel Cormier was worried that Khamzat Chimaev would not get his first UFC title fight.
The 14-0 Russian will be confronted on August 16 with middleweight champion Drus du Plessis on UFC 319.
Injuries, illness and visa problems have delayed the rise of Khamzat Chimaev to the top of MMA.
Daniel Cormier feared that 'Borz' would fall from another fight when he received a relevant phone call in June.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Daniel Cormier Details worry from Khamzat Chimaev call
The former two-weight UFC champion-commentator-commentator recently has a preview of UFC 319 with colleague MMA legend Chael Sonnen.
During their Good Guy/Bad Guy -Podcast, Cormier suggested that there was a problem with Chimaev during his camp.
It was apparently such a big problem that someone called him who asked who would fight Du Plessis instead.
“There were so many questions about him even this fight,” said Cormier.
“I can say this now, we are a week of the fight. Two months ago I received a phone call and said that Khamzat would come out. Who do you think you should fight against Dricus?
'It must be the child from France, [Nassourdine] Imavov? Or should it be [Caio] Borralho?
“And it wasn't. It would always be khamzat. He would take that walk.”
It is currently unclear who Cormier called or what problem such concern has led to Chimaev's ability to fight on UFC 319 – but the fact that the conversation took place suggests that there was a major problem during his camp.
Khamzat Chimaev's UFC 319 precautions
Chimaev recently revealed that he has done everything he can to minimize his interactions with the outside world prior to UFC 319.
The 31-year-old simply trained and spent time at home to prevent him from getting sick and to jeopardize his opportunity for the title shot.
“I have to be ready, not getting sick,” Chimaev told ESPN MMA
'That's why I just say to the boys:' If we go to the mall, like someone, like someone, [a] Sick fan is coming, maybe we get that disease. '
“So I have to be careful for that.”