Marc Diakiese discusses how Khamzat Chimaev pushed him in training before UFC London win

LONDON – Marc Diakiese got a nice push from Khamzat Chimaev in his training camp for UFC Fight Night 208.

Diakiese (16-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) scored a lopsided unanimous decision win over Damir Hadzovic this past Saturday at The O2, where he continued to show off his grappling game.

The 29-year-old trained at both Brad Pickett’s Great Britain Top Team and All Stars Gym in Sweden for the fight and recalls how Chimaev’s work ethic motivated him.

“Khamzat is a great guy,” Diakiese told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “It pushes you. If you’re on the treadmill with him, and you’re going faster than him, he’ll start putting his speed up. It’s always competition. You’re always competing with something. He never let’s you win, so he’s pretty good.”

At one point, Diakiese had his back against the wall having lost five of his past seven. However, a change in style has allowed the dynamic striker to rebound and now finds himself on a two-fight winning streak.

“I’ve been working on a lot of things, my wrestling,” Diakiese said. “I’m trying to put my game all-around together. When you take a couple of losses, people start to talk. But myself, I didn’t really know what my game was. I was just striking. I didn’t really mix it up properly. I’ve been working a lot on my wrestling, trying to put everything together, which just happened tonight. I’ve done a bit of improvements. I would have liked to have got a finish, but I didn’t get it. So I’d just like to get another fight and try to show it all.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.