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“The way they’re building up Khamzat, I don’t know what they can say after this.”
Seems like all those fickle MMA fans who hopped off the “Sugar” sack once Sean O’Malley got humbled back in August were quick to stow away on the Khamzat Chimaev hype train, which continues to barrel down the UFC tracks at an incredible rate of speed.
Not uncommon for an engine that runs on a lean mixture of hyperbole and crushed cans.
That’s why Leon Edwards is paying little attention to the buzz surrounding his opponent for the upcoming UFC Vegas 17 main event at APEX, where “Rocky” will earn his welterweight title shot with a commanding performance against Chimaev.
“I believe he’s overhyped,” Edwards told Ariel Helwani. “It’s hard to judge him. The competition he’s faced is pretty low. I’ve been 9-0 in my career. I once had an eight-second knockout in the UFC. I’ve done everything he’s done, you know what I mean? The UFC is just trying to hype him. When I go out there and beat him next, I believe I’ll get a title shot.”
Edwards (18-3) has now won eight in a row and is currently ranked No. 3 in the 170-pound division. The unranked Chimaev (9-0), meanwhile, has only been competing for UFC since July but has already racked up three consecutive finishes.
Looks like we’ll separate contender from pretender on Dec. 19 in “Sin City.”