Kamaru Usman is raising serious questions about Khamzat Chimaev's approach to training—and it's a conversation that could reshape the trajectory of one of the UFC's most promising stars.

After Chimaev (15-1) suffered a narrow split-decision loss to Sean Strickland (31-7) at UFC 328 last weekend, dropping his middleweight title in the process, the MMA world is buzzing. Chimaev looked gassed by the second round, and while he managed a late surge in the fourth, it wasn't enough to reclaim the belt from "Borz." Now, Usman—who has shared the Octagon with Chimaev—is pointing to a glaring gap in his preparation: the lack of a dedicated MMA head coach.

Chimaev certainly has coaches in his corner, but none with the heavyweight reputation that typically guides elite fighters. His friend, UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, was spotted taking a leading role in his corner at UFC 328, a move that raised eyebrows. Usman believes Chimaev has largely been self-taught up to this point, relying on raw talent and instinct rather than structured mentorship.

"I'm impressed by how far he's gotten by just really training himself," Usman said on the "Pound4Pound" podcast. "Because in there between rounds, who's his coach? Who's giving him sound instructions?... [Arman Tsarukyan], a fighter still trying to make his way to the title, was your head coach? Who's your striking coach? Who's your MMA coach? What's missing is just that person that you respect to the utmost degree... A bond between Khamzat and finding a coach that can put that together could take Khamzat to the next level."

Chimaev currently trains strength and conditioning under coach Sam Calavitta at the Treigning Lab in California, where grueling workouts are the norm. But his team isn't limited to MMA fighters, and that's sparked growing doubt about the effectiveness of "Coach Cal's" regimen for combat sports. UFC veteran Cub Swanson raised similar concerns long before this loss, questioning how extreme S&C drills translate to the Octagon. For Chimaev, the path forward may hinge on finding a head coach who can bridge that gap—and turn raw potential into lasting greatness.