Khamzat Chimaev hints at UFC 294 fight against Kamaru Usman
Khamzat Chimaev hinted at a UFC 294 fight against former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Chimaev has not fought since last September when he submitted Kevin Holland at UFC 279. Currently unbeaten in his professional MMA career with a perfect 12-0 record, Chimaev is one of the most highly-touted fighters in the game today, but there is one problem: he is struggling to find his weight class.
Chimaev missed weight badly at UFC 279 last year, and the entire card had to be reshuffled as a result of his weight miss. Although he did smash Kevin Holland in the first round of their fight, it was at a 180lbs catchweight. Because of that weight miss, most fans assumed that Chimaev would be moving up to 185lbs. However, it appears that the UFC is reconsidering what weight class Chimaev will fight at in his next bout, and it might be at 170lbs instead.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chimaev confirmed that the UFC plans on booking him for the Abu Dhabi card in October, and the promotion is talking to him about fighting the former champ Usman in a welterweight bout.
“UFC told us we’re gonna fight in Abu Dhabi, so that’s what I’m waiting for,” Chimaev said (h/t MMAjunkie.com). “Usman wants to fight. I make his last fight. He wants money. He knows where is the money, you know? Everyone knows the money. I’m gonna fight this guy, Abu Dhabi, smash his face, finish him, then they have to give me that title shot. There’s not money fights anymore. It’s only me.”
It will certainly be interesting to see if this fight ends up being made, and if it does, if Chimaev can make weight.
Do you want to see the UFC book Kamaru Usman against Khamzat Chimaev, and who do you think would win?
