Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has had a front-row seat to Khamzat Chimaev's evolution—and he's got some fascinating insight into what makes the 185-pound titleholder tick. As Chimaev prepares to defend his belt against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 this Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, Rockhold has been right there in the gym with him, training side-by-side at Santo Studio in Newport Beach, California.

What started as an unexpected training arrangement has turned into something special. Rockhold, along with UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, has been putting in rounds with Chimaev—and the former champ is impressed. On Tuesday's episode of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Rockhold didn't hold back, ranking Chimaev among the best training partners he's ever had. That's saying something for a guy who's shared the mats with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, and Islam Makhachev during his days at American Kickboxing Academy.

"He's special," Rockhold said. "He hits very hard. He's so unique in his realm." But Rockhold's praise came with a key observation: Chimaev's performance against Dricus du Plessis last August was dominant—arguably one of the most one-sided title fights in UFC history—but it lacked the explosive entertainment fans have come to expect. The reason? Pressure from outside the Octagon.

"I think the pressure was from some Chechen ruler [Ramzan Kadyrov] and the people behind him," Rockhold explained. "There was a lot of pressure on him to win. This time, I think you'll see a lot more free Khamzat."

For fans hoping to see Chimaev at his best, Rockhold's advice is simple: relax. "If he can relax—and I think last time out, there was a lot of pressure—this time, you'll see a lot more free Khamzat. Hopefully he gets those takedowns. And if he loses a few takedowns, he can show his stand-up, because he's very dangerous on the feet. It's just a matter of putting it all together and relaxing into the process."

Rockhold emphasized that Chimaev's biggest challenge isn't his opponent—it's his own urgency. "If he loses some takedowns, he's gotta relax. If he relaxes among that process, he's going to get more takedowns and be effective on the feet. He just can't rush it."

With Strickland standing across the cage, the pressure will be on. But if Rockhold's read is right, we might just see the most dangerous version of Khamzat Chimaev yet—one who's finally free to fight his fight.