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Firas Zahabi: Khamzat Chimaev Will Be UFC Champion ‘Sooner Or Later’

Firas Zahabi, has predicted the UFC’s newest star Khamzat Chimaev will become champion “sooner or later.” The TriStar Head coach has also considered a potential match-up between the undefeated Swedish prospect and current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Chimaev burst onto the scene in the summer of 2020. The 26-year-old looked sensational in his UFC debut […]

Firas Zahabi, has predicted the UFC’s newest star Khamzat Chimaev will become champion “sooner or later.”

The TriStar Head coach has also considered a potential match-up between the undefeated Swedish prospect and current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Chimaev burst onto the scene in the summer of 2020. The 26-year-old looked sensational in his UFC debut at middleweight against John Phillips. Ten days later he fought again on ‘Fight Island’. This time he dropped down to welterweight to take on Rhys McKee who he stopped in one round.

In September ‘Borz’ stepped up his level opposition to take on fringe middleweight contender Gerald Meerschaert. Chimaev spectacularly knocked out ‘GM3’ with the first punch the threw in the fight, taking his new found fame to another level.

Chimaev was recently scheduled for his first main event opposite British standout Leon Edwards, which would’ve been another huge step up in level.

Unfortunately for Chimaev, the fight has been scrapped as he continues to deal with the implications of long-term COVID-19. Edwards is now set to face Belal Muhammad on March 13 instead.

All the uncertainty surrounding Chimaev’s health has not dampened Zahabi’s expectations for the youngster who he believes will pick up UFC gold at some point.

The former coach of George St-Pierre made his proclamation when considering a fan question which asked his opinion on a potential fight between Chimaev and Usman.

“I don’t know, it’s a very tough one,” Zahabi said. “I’m still, Khamzat has impressed me very much, I would love to see him do a three-rounder so we can see a lot more of him. I’ve seen him in person, he’s so tall, he looks like a freak athlete, tall, lanky, you see his explosiveness in the octagon, you see how hard he hits. He’s a tremendous contender. Sooner or later, he’s going to be world champion. Will it be against Usman? I don’t know.” (Transcribed by Essentially Sports)

Do you agree with Firas Zahabi? Will Khamzat Chimaev become a champion?

Firas Zahabi: It Seemed Like Conor McGregor Gave Up Against Dustin Poirier

Firas Zahabi believes Conor McGregor folded against Dustin Poirier. McGregor suffered a second-round knockout defeat at the hands of Poirier in the UFC 257 headliner this past weekend. In what was one of the most shocking moments in the sport, many observers heaped praise on Poirier for his improvement since the first fight as well […]

Firas Zahabi believes Conor McGregor folded against Dustin Poirier.

McGregor suffered a second-round knockout defeat at the hands of Poirier in the UFC 257 headliner this past weekend.

In what was one of the most shocking moments in the sport, many observers heaped praise on Poirier for his improvement since the first fight as well as his overall game plan.

However, Zahabi believes McGregor could have survived the onslaught of Poirier — had he not given up.

“In the second round, when McGregor was getting hit along the fence. I found it strange that he wasn’t — it seemed like he had already gave up on the fight,” Zahabi said on his YouTube channel (via Bloody Elbow). “Before he hit the canvas, I felt like he had given up on the fight, because things were getting tough.

“The fight was getting tough. His left hand didn’t work, and he’s not used to that. He’s not used to hitting guys with the big left, and then (they) keep fighting. McGregor, in the second round, dropped his best card. He landed that perfect left hand, the one he’s relied on his entire career. But for one reason or another, it didn’t work.

“Poirier did not go down, and it seemed that McGregor got emotional about it. He started covering up, he was getting hit, but it didn’t look like he was trying to circle out and survive. He looked like a guy who was like ‘this is the end, I better do something.’ He threw a few punches, but they were like — almost desperate.

“He seemed to get emotional. I looked at his face and he was very very emotional. Whereas if you contrast that with Poirier, when Poirier got hit… he was cool and looking for his next move.”

While Zahabi still believes McGregor is superior to Poirier in a number of areas, the Irishman ultimately lacks the heart of the latter. That means he is unable to weather storms like Poirier.

“I gave McGregor so many pluses,” Zahabi added. “I told you guys he’s a better boxer, he’s a better counterpuncher, he has better reach, and he’s faced Mayweather in boxing. He has so many advantages, but one thing I said, Poirier has the biggest heart. You can’t deny that.

“We saw the will to win overcome skill and technique. McGregor has beautiful skill and technique, punching mechanics. Even towards to the end, his head movement was excellent. In my opinion, he’s not used to weathering storms. All the hard fights Poirier had, they all led him to this win last weekend. All those hard fights, those blood and guts fights he’s had, they’ve toughened him up mentally. The barrage of punches he was taking would’ve put a lesser seasoned fighter out.

“If you look at McGregor. The punches he took at the end of the fight, that would not have put Poirier out. If you disagree, please look at the Poirier-Hooker fight. You can see that what happened to McGregor at the end of the fight, was happening all for 15 minutes between Poirier and Dan Hooker. When McGregor gets into a heated battle, it seems like he folds. It seems like he will fold faster than Poirier by far.”

Do you agree with Zahabi?

Firas Zahabi Giving Conor McGregor 60-40 Edge Over Dustin Poirier At UFC 257

Firas Zahabi is giving the slight edge to Conor McGregor over Dustin Poirier. McGregor faces Poirier in a lightweight rematch that will headline the UFC 257 pay-per-view event on January 23 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. It’s a rematch of their 2014 featherweight meeting that saw the Irishman comfortably knock Poirier out in the first […]

Firas Zahabi is giving the slight edge to Conor McGregor over Dustin Poirier.

McGregor faces Poirier in a lightweight rematch that will headline the UFC 257 pay-per-view event on January 23 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

It’s a rematch of their 2014 featherweight meeting that saw the Irishman comfortably knock Poirier out in the first round. And while both fighters have improved massively since — especially Poirier — Zahabi believes the styles of both fighters play into the hands of McGregor.

“I’m not saying Dustin has no chance to win,” Zahabi said on his podcast. “I’m giving it 60-40 in McGregor’s favor. I don’t usually go 60-40 especially at this level. Two elite guys who were world champions. They both have ways to win, they’re both super seasoned, super experienced, super dangerous, they’re both finishers.

“Why am I being so generous? Well, I think this has a lot to do with styles. Conor McGregor is the best counter-puncher in UFC history. There’s never been a counter-puncher like him in MMA. Dustin Poirier‘s number one weapon is boxing so he’s kind of feeding the McGregor machine — exactly what McGregor wants. But because he’s primarily a puncher, and he’s a very good puncher, he’s just not a puncher at the level of a McGregor.

“McGregor has reached, in my opinion, the highest level of MMA so far.”

Zahabi would add that Poirier definitely has the heart over McGregor and is capable of taking him down or taking the fight to the latter rounds.

That said, he just doesn’t see it happening.

“I don’t think it will go that far,” Zahabi added. “I think McGregor is going to get his job done in the first two rounds.”

Do you agree with Zahabi?

Johnny Walker Open To Training At SBG Ireland If Tristar Doesn’t Work Out

Johnny Walker is giving Tristar Gym a shot but he’s prepared to give SBG Ireland a go if things don’t pan out. Walker hasn’t been shy in expressing his past troubles with former coach Leo Gosling. Walker says he’s always had pro…

The post Johnny Walker Open To Training At SBG Ireland If Tristar Doesn’t Work Out appeared first on MMA News.

Firas Zahabi Wants Conor McGregor To Fight Nate Diaz Next For 165-Pound Title

After Conor McGregor knocked out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds many wondered what would be next. Dana White made it clear he wants the Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch, but Firas Zahabi believes the Nate Diaz trilogy should happen next, and he would make it …

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Firas Zahabi Wants McGregor vs. Diaz Trilogy For 165-Pound Title

One of the biggest questions lingering over the mixed martial arts (MMA) world at the moment is “who will fight Conor McGregor next?” Many options have been thrown out, including the likes of Jorge Masvidal, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and more. However, another option has been whispered about as well. […]

The post Firas Zahabi Wants McGregor vs. Diaz Trilogy For 165-Pound Title appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

One of the biggest questions lingering over the mixed martial arts (MMA) world at the moment is “who will fight Conor McGregor next?”

Many options have been thrown out, including the likes of Jorge Masvidal, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and more. However, another option has been whispered about as well. That being the long-awaited trilogy bout between the Irishman and Nate Diaz. This is exactly what longtime MMA coach Firas Zahabi would like to see, as he explained in a recent AMA session. (H/T Bloody Elbow)

“I love that idea (of Conor McGregor) fighting Nate Diaz again at 170 or 155,” Zahabi said. “Either way, it doesn’t bother me, even a catchweight, 165. Why not start a new title, a new belt, a new championship title?

“Super lightweight, 165, Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz. I would tune in. I think a five rounder with a belt on the line to settle this epic trilogy fight would be phenomenal. I would love to see that fight. I think it’s a great great possibility.”

McGregor and Diaz first fought back at UFC 196 in 2016. There, Diaz handed McGregor the first loss of his UFC career by submitting the Irishman in the second round of their welterweight bout. It was a tough blow for McGregor, who bounced back months later by rematching Diaz at welterweight with a majority decision win. After the fight, McGregor said he’d love to do the trilogy bout with Diaz, but at lightweight.

However, since then, McGregor and Diaz have fought several more times, Diaz fighting his last two fights at 170 pounds, with no intention of making the cut back down to 155 pounds anytime soon. McGregor seems to be enjoying the extra weight at welterweight as well. He recently made his return to Octagon action this past weekend in the UFC 246 pay-per-view (PPV) headliner. McGregor knocked out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the main event of the evening at welterweight.

“Notorious” has also expressed interest in going after the division’s championship as well, which is currently held by Kamaru Usman. As for whether or not a trilogy bout with Diaz will happen next, that remains to be seen, however, fights against Nurmagomedov or Masvidal seem like the most likely scenarios for the Irishman moving forward.

Do you want to see McGregor and Diaz finish their trilogy next?

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