In the lead-up to UFC 328, an unexpected training partnership is making waves in the MMA world. Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has been sharing the mats at Santo Studio in Newport Beach, California, with current 185-pound titleholder Khamzat Chimaev and lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. For Rockhold, who honed his skills alongside legends at American Kickboxing Academy, this collaboration has offered a front-row seat to Chimaev's unique abilities.

Speaking on Tuesday's episode of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Rockhold didn't hold back his praise, ranking Chimaev among the best training partners he's ever had—a list that includes icons like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, and Islam Makhachev. "He's special," Rockhold told Uncrowned. "He hits very hard. He's so unique in his realm, so he's going to stick to what he does best."

But the former champ also sees room for growth. Chimaev's dominant yet criticized title win over Dricus du Plessis in August showcased his raw power, but some fans found it lacking in excitement. Rockhold believes the issue wasn't skill but circumstance. "I think the pressure was from some Chechen ruler [Ramzan Kadyrov] and then the people behind him—there's a lot of pressure," Rockhold explained.

As Chimaev prepares to defend his belt against Sean Strickland this Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, Rockhold is eager to see a more relaxed version of the champion. "If he can relax—and I think last time out, there was a lot of pressure on him to win—this time, I think you'll see a lot more free Khamzat," Rockhold said. "Hopefully, he gets those takedowns. And if he loses a few, he can show his stand-up, because he's very dangerous on the feet."

For Rockhold, the key is patience. "It's just a matter of putting it all together and relaxing into the process. If he loses some takedowns, he's gotta relax. If he relaxes, he's going to get more takedowns and be effective on the feet. He just can't rush it."

With Chimaev's explosive style and Rockhold's veteran insight, this training camp could be the secret weapon for a more complete performance. Whether the champion heeds that advice remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the pressure is on, and the MMA world is watching closely.