Khamzat Chimaev is looking back at his UFC 273 performance. Rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev has never been closer to a UFC title shot before. His performance and win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 was the just the thing that got him to where he is right now. He is now sitting in the…
Khamzat Chimaev is looking back at his UFC 273 performance.
Rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev has never been closer to a UFC title shot before. His performance and win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 was the just the thing that got him to where he is right now. He is now sitting in the number three spot and just one or two fights away from facing the champ.
“I feel sorry for my coaches. They work hard with me. I made many mistakes. Go back and watch my fight, like I always do,” Chimaev said via BJPenn.com I will work hard, more energy. I need to be (better) everywhere. Black belt, striking, ground-and-pound, wrestling, grappling, whatever, everything. I will fix everything now. One way I’m happy and one way I’m mad. I’m mad because I couldn’t finish the guy!”
Chimaev’s win over Burns was by unanimous decision. It was the first time he hasn’t been able to finish an opponent in his professional career. Khamzat only has 11 professional fights to his name and just five in the UFC so far, but he has been one of the fastest-rising fighters in the past few years with a lot of hype around him. He knows now since facing his first top-five opponent that he must work on these things he mentioned.
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns expects to get a big fight next as promised by Dana White after his thrilling clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273. After his exceptional performance against Khamzat Chimave at UFC 273, Gilbert Burns was awarded his win money in addition to the bonuses and show money. ‘Durinho’ put on […]
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns expects to get a big fight next as promised by Dana White after his thrilling clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273.
After his exceptional performance against Khamzat Chimave at UFC 273, Gilbert Burns was awarded his win money in addition to the bonuses and show money. ‘Durinho’ put on the fight of the night with a gritty performance that had the fans going crazy in excitement as well as the fighters.
In a recent interview with Ag Fight, Gilbert Burns shared that UFC president Dana White was delighted by his performance and promised to give him a big fight next.
“I expected the win, but it happens. It had a great repercussion, everybody liked the fight. Yesterday, I had a meeting with Dana White, he was thrilled. He said my next fight is going to be a big one. I don’t know who it’s going to be against, but I liked what he said. He promised me a big fight. I chose to believe him and I’m at ease now. Let’s wait and see.”
Burns signed a six-fight deal ahead of his title bout with Kamaru Usman. With two more fights since the title challenge, there are still three more fights left on his current deal. However, the Brazilian fighter feels like he can get the deal renegotiated and come out with a better contract.
“It’s almost certain that they’ll give me a new contract.” Burns said. “I renewed it in my fight against Usman. It was six fights. I fought Kamaru, Thompson and now Chimaev. I still had three more to go, but it’s ‘promised’ that they’ll give me a new one. I hope it all works out. It’s not certain, but I think I can ask for a new one after a performance like that.” (h/t Bloody Elbow).
Gilbert Burns puts on a show at UFC 273
At UFC 273, Gilbert Burns went in as a big underdog, having been written off by a good chunk of the community in one of the most highly anticipated bouts. Taking on the hype train of Khamzat Chimaev, the former title challenger proved the doubters wrong as he undeniably became the Chechen’s toughest test to date, in a narrowly fought contest that saw Chimaev take the win via unanimous decision.
Chimaev revealed that he got two more bonuses from Dana White after the event and expects to face Burns again at some point in the future. Burns feels like he did Chimaev a favor and is looking to get the rematch back down the line for its return. At a time when very few fighters were willing to take on Chimaev, who was ranked eleventh at the time, the second-ranked welterweight Burns came in to accept the challenge.
In a fight that Chimaev technically won, there were no losers as Burns’s stock has only gone up since the result. He’s become more of a fan favorite and gained a following in the process. A future fight with a big name like Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, or even Dustin Poirier could be on the horizon. Colby Covington may also be an option, but it’s unlikely given the promotion’s plans to match him up against Chimaev in a top contender fight.
Who would you like to see Gilbert Burns fight next?
Perhaps no fighter in MMA history had received so much hype as Khamzat Chimaev prior to UFC 273. Shrouded in an aura of invincibility, the 27-year-old had been attributed almost otherworldly powers by the UFC, the media, and fans alike. UFC President Dana White had lionized Khamzat as “the most special guy that I’ve ever…
Perhaps no fighter in MMA history had received so much hype as Khamzat Chimaev prior to UFC 273. Shrouded in an aura of invincibility, the 27-year-old had been attributed almost otherworldly powers by the UFC, the media, and fans alike.
UFC President Dana White had lionized Khamzat as “the most special guy that I’ve ever come across.” Pundits gushed over his fight statistics, breathlessly noting that he had been struck just once in four UFC fights. And for scores of fans, Chimaev was a blank canvas onto which they projected their wildest MMA fantasies, with many believing he would steamroll his way to becoming a two, even three-division champ.
Then, at UFC 273, he met Gilbert Burns. Written off as simply a speedbump on Khamzat’s road to greatness, the Brazilian did things to Chimaev that most thought impossible. He resisted his takedowns. He smacked the Swede so hard his face almost rotated 180 degrees backwards. And he left “Borz” so battered and bruised that many believed he lost the fight.
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 11, 2022
The myth of Khamzat as an all-powerful being sent from above to smesh everyone was firmly destroyed that night. But contrary to the belief of some, and despite how sternly he was tested by Burns, Chimaev wasn’t exposed. Defeating the #2 ranked welterweight after just four UFC fights is a remarkable feat. And while he wasn’t exposed as a fighter, some of Khamzat’s flaws, however, certainly were.
“Chimaev, he’s impressive because he ended up winning, but I saw a lot of flaws today, and he’s kind of an emotional fighter,” Cejudo said on The Triple C & Schmo Show. “If you go back and watch the elite—a Demetrious Johnson—these guys, they know how to compete. It’s ok, you won the fight, but at the same time, hey dude, you’re starting to expose yourself. You don’t want to show that you’re able to take punishment, and I think that’s what he showed this fight.”
PHOTO: GETTY
And Triple C has a point. While there’s no question Chimaev possesses an otherworldly ability to eat a punch, the fact that we now know is cause for concern. His lack of head movement, coupled with his tendency to walk into punches, saw him sustain 119 significant strikes against Burns, including that brick of a right hand that almost put him out in the second round.
Were he to fight Kamaru Usman the same way—a man with a four-inch reach and power advantage over Burns—Khamzat would surely be in for a world of far greater pain.
Did Khamzat’s Lust For The KO Ruin His Plans?
Given his rapid ascent through the UFC ranks and the hype surrounding him, it’s easy to forget that Chimaev is still only 27 years old. Just four fights into his UFC career, and fighting for the first time before a packed US crowd, Chimaev was no doubt swept up in his big UFC 273 moment.
His coach, Andreas Michael, believes the expectation to deliver another highlight-reel finish caused his pupil to throw their gameplan out the window.
“He threw the game plan out because he promised everyone that he was going to knock him out,” Michael told ESPN. “Backstage, he told me that, ‘Oh, my God! It’s embarrassing. I promised that I was gonna knock him out.’ That was his only concern. So, he could have done a clinic.”
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM
In fact, Michael, who was heard expelling a lung while screaming at Khamzat between rounds, says his fighter could have finished Burns within two rounds had he stuck to the game plan.
“For me, it’s like, this fight, I was absolutely not satisfied,” continued Michael. “Because I think that an easy evening turned out—all he needed to do was just use his jab and sometimes throw the right hand. And I think we would have been done in two rounds. You know, just keep your distance; don’t fall into the shot, so you don’t get caught with the hooks.”
Can Chimaev Conquer Colby Covington Next?
Despite Khamzat’s training partners ritually attesting to his phenomenal conditioning, there were moments in the Burns fight when he certainly looked tired. And that’s something his likely next opponent, cardio king Colby Covington, could take advantage of in a five-round fight.
Otherwise, Chimaev does match up favorably to Covington. His wrestling, and the impressive takedown defense he exhibited against Burns, will provide a stern test for “Chaos.” It was notable, however, that while Khamzat was able to take Burns down, he wasn’t able to keep him there for long. Colby’s lack of KO power, particularly compared to Burns, is also in Chimaev’s favor. And the Swede’s heavy hands could pose a problem for Covington.
While the fight is yet to be made official, bookmakers already have Khamzat a -200 favorite against +170 underdog Covington. Perhaps if “Borz” reflects on the mistakes of his last fight, and vows to stick to his coach’s game plan, he could prove the bookmakers right.
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman believes the pre-fight narratives ahead of UFC 273 were “disrespectful” towards Gilbert Burns. Despite his #2 ranking at the time, Burns agreed to take on rising star Khamzat Chimaev, ranked #11 before meeting “Durinho,” at the April 9 pay-per-view. One of the leading discussions before the event surrounded the lopsided…
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman believes the pre-fight narratives ahead of UFC 273 were “disrespectful” towards Gilbert Burns.
Despite his #2 ranking at the time, Burns agreed to take on rising star Khamzat Chimaev, ranked #11 before meeting “Durinho,” at the April 9 pay-per-view. One of the leading discussions before the event surrounded the lopsided betting odds, which had “Borz,” who was yet to face a top-10 opponent, as a heavy favorite.
Despite falling on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict, the respect and admiration for Burns no doubt increased off the back of his performance.
Now, former teammate and opponent Usman, who recorded a third-round TKO victory over Burns last February, his given his thoughts on the contest, slamming those who didn’t give “Durinho” a chance against the surging Chimaev.
Usman: Burns Was Wrongly Dismissed Before Chimaev Fight
But while he acknowledged that the hype behind Chimaev and his potential is good for the sport, “The Nigerian Nightmare” believes it paved the way for Burns’ abilities to be disrespected and underrated prior to the PPV.
“It was a very, very good fight. I think both guys came prepared the best they could, and the fight showed that. I think a lot of people were disrespecting Gilbert Burns, assessed Usman. “You get a kid like this (Chimaev) that comes in and has all this hype and everyone talking about him, the is great, it’s great for the sport, it’s great for guys like myself. It’s very good.
“And so, I think the way the media kind of portrayed the week, to where he was the most talked-about thing on that card… it was very disrespectful to a guy like Gilbert Burns, who has put in the years, who has put in the time, has fought all these guys to get up here at the top of the division, and now you’re just kinda dismissing him,” added Usman. “I think, to be honest with you, just minor tweaks from Gilbert Burns and I think that fight was definitely very, very winnable.”
While Chimaev, now ranked #3 at 170 pounds, moves towards a potential clash with Colby Covington and a future date with Usman, it’s back to the drawing board for Burns, who’s not giving up hope of securing a second crack at ascending the welterweight mountain.
Do you agree with Kamaru Usman? Was Gilbert Burns disrespected ahead of his fight with Khamzat Chimaev?
Gilbert Burns is looking for a big-name fight next. Gilbert Burns has shown that he belongs at the top of the welterweight division. He is a former title challenger and he is looking to make his way up to the top once again. He recently fought up-and-coming contender Khamzat Chimaev on the UFC 273 main…
Now, Burns is heading back to the drawing board and has a few big names on his checklist.
“I don’t need to give another opportunity to another up-and-coming guy. I need a big fight. I need a couple guys. I know I’m gonna have a long way up to the title. I’m gonna need two or three impressive wins. I’m okay with that,” Burns said to TMZ Sports.
“Now I want a big fight. I know Nate Diaz needs an opponent. I think that will be a crazy fight. I can put in the contract, ‘No takedowns attempted, just standup…’ I love that fight. Nate, maybe Nick, maybe Masvidal. Right now, I’m just gonna focus on my recovery.”
Burns is currently sitting in the number four spot since losing to Chimaev, and he knows a win over a big name like the ones he mentioned would get him closer to the title.
Burns’ proposal to Diaz of a no takedown clause is of course unrealistic but could be a method to entice Diaz to begin some negotiations. Once Diaz starts trash-talking with someone, that fight begins to get traction, although many times it does not result in an actual contract.
Would you like to see Gilbert Burns take on Nate Diaz in a stand-up-only war?
Gilbert Burns didn’t pick up the win at UFC 273 over Khamzat Chimaev, but he showed fans that Chimaev isn’t unstoppable in the Octagon. Burns and Chimaev earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors following their three-round bloodbath at UFC 273. After fifteen minutes of nonstop action on the feet and ground, Chimaev earned a unanimous…
Gilbert Burns didn’t pick up the win at UFC 273 over Khamzat Chimaev, but he showed fans that Chimaev isn’t unstoppable in the Octagon.
Burns and Chimaev earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors following their three-round bloodbath at UFC 273. After fifteen minutes of nonstop action on the feet and ground, Chimaev earned a unanimous decision win on the judges’ scorecards.
Chimaev was the big betting favorite entering his showdown with UFC 273, but Burns arguably came very close to spoiling Chimaev’s night. Some of his UFC colleagues, including Ian Garry, believe Burns did enough to win the fight in Rounds 1 and 3.
Despite the loss, Burns is keeping his head up as he moves forward in his pursuit of UFC gold. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Burns gave an inside look at what it was like competing against the upstart Chimaev.
“I think he hits pretty hard. I was expecting a little bit more wrestling,” Burns admitted. “Like I said before, I have a ton of respect for this guy, but I don’t see no Superman, I don’t see no murderer, no monster. I see a guy just like me, with a lot of will, a lot of heart, trying to get a finish… I don’t think he’s the monster that people (said he was). I just showed that he’s human. But the guy’s a warrior, too. But yeah, I just see another tough guy, nothing different than the other guys that I was facing.”
Chimaev could have a matchup with Colby Covington next on his to-do list, as UFC President Dana White teased recently. Before the loss to Chimaev, Burns earned an impressive win over former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 264.
Burns earned a lot of respect from the fans for his performance at UFC 273. Despite suffering from the jaws of defeat, Burns proved that everyone can be beaten, including top prospects like Chimaev.
How did you score Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273?
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns expects to get a big fight next as promised by Dana White after his thrilling clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273. After his exceptional performance against Khamzat Chimave at UFC 273, Gilbert Burns was awarded his win money in addition to the bonuses and show money. ‘Durinho’ put on […]
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