Tag: Khamzat Chimaev

Kamaru Usman Believes extra two rounds could’ve made Difference at UFC 294: ‘I’m a championship fighter’

Kamaru Usman two extra rounds would've beaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 I'm a championship fighterKamaru Usman believes that an extra two rounds against Khamzat Chimaev could have helped earn him a victory. After…

Kamaru Usman two extra rounds would've beaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 I'm a championship fighter

Kamaru Usman believes that an extra two rounds against Khamzat Chimaev could have helped earn him a victory.

After a late withdrawal of Paulo Costa, Kamaru Usman stepped in on just 10 days notice, up a weight class, against one of the UFC’s most fierce up-and-comers. After surviving a dominant first round, Usman produced a spirited effort against Khamzat Chimaev and would make the fight competitive. 

Media scorecards varied massively, having it Usman, Chimaev and draw, and whatever they may be Usman gave a very good account of himself. 

Kamaru Usman wanted championship rounds

Reflecting on the contest, Usman felt that an additional two rounds could have changed the outcome. Usman was taken down on several occasions, on a level which he has never had to deal with and talking to ESPN he felt as if the preparations played a key role in this.

“It’s miscalculations for me,” Usman said. “That’s part of camp. For me, I’m a wrestler, that’s why I love to wrestle. I love to really put time in in camp and really prepare for those positions, and I didn’t necessarily get the time to really put the grappling in to be able to stop those takedowns. I don’t give up positions like that. That’s the part that I’m mostly disappointed about is giving up those positions, because I didn’t have adequate time to prepare.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

The Nigerian Nightmare’ has spent the majority of the past few years preparing for and fighting in five round contested as the former welterweight champion.

“But that’s no excuse. He’s as advertised. He’s big, he’s strong, and — I’m a championship fighter,” Usman said. “I need those extra two rounds. I can’t start slow like that. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a three-round fight, but that kid’s as advertised. He’s tough and I give him all the props.”

What would you like to see Kamaru Usman do next?

Khamzat Chimaev walks away from post-UFC 294 interview after being overwhelmed with emotion

Khamzat ChimaevKhamzat Chimaev made a successful return to the Octagon at UFC 294, but following the contest, he was more…

Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev made a successful return to the Octagon at UFC 294, but following the contest, he was more interested in talking about the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine than a random fistfight on Saturday night.

More than a year removed from his last outing against Kevin Holland at UFC 279, Khamzat Chimaev stepped back inside the cage for a clash with former welterweight world champion, Kamaru Usman. After three rounds of action that largely saw ‘Borz’ impose his will on the ground, Chimaev was revealed to be the winner via a majority decision.

That victory will likely earn him a shot at reigning middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland, but during his post-fight interview, Chimaev was determined to voice his concern over the bloodshed between Israel and Palestine and the lives that the conflict has already claimed.

“Guys, you know what’s happening in the world right now. I wasn’t happy in the cage to fight this week,” Chimaev said. “I see the kids dying. It doesn’t matter where in the world Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, USA, doesn’t matter. When kids die, it’s hard, guys. I love kids. I have a boy that is waiting for me… Inshallah, we’ll be good in the world. I hope so. Muslim, Christian, Jewish, doesn’t matter. Please, guys, be together. Let us live in this world good, and let us be happy.”

Khamzat Chimaev Excuses Himself From Backstage Interview

Though he didn’t appear at the post-fight press event, Khamzat Chimaev did speak with members of the media backstage and echoed similar sentiments. This time, ‘Borz’ was so overcome with emotion over the situation that he had to excuse himself from the interview.

Chimaev briefly spoke about the horrible things he had been seeing on Instagram as of late before being asked about his UFC 294 opponent. Borz’ was nothing, but complimentary toward Kamaru Usman, but chose to remove himself from the interview before offering any insight into the fight or what it was like to share the Octagon with the former welterweight champ.

Khamzat Chimaev opens as betting favorite to defeat Sean Strickland in title fight after UFC 294 win

Khamzat Chimaev opens as betting favorite to beat Sean Strickland after UFC 294Off the back of his close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main…

Khamzat Chimaev opens as betting favorite to beat Sean Strickland after UFC 294

Off the back of his close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294 last night, Khamzat Chimaev has opened as a significant betting favorite to defeat Sean Strickland in a future title fight – after landing a win in his title-eliminator return.

Co-headlining UFC 294 in a reshuffled bout last night in Abu Dhabi, Chechen-born contender, Khamzat Chimaev turned in a close, majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) victory over former pound-for-pound number one, Usman in his first Octagon walk since he featured at UFC 279 back in September of last year.

Revealing he suffered a fractured right hand likely in the opening exchanges of his first round brawl with Usman in the Middle East last night, Chimaev may face an extended period on the sidelines, claiming the injury setback forced him to utilize a striking gameplan predominantly, ahead of his usual wrestling and grappling approach.

Khamzat Chimaev opens as betting favorite over Sean Strickland after UFC 294

And following his victory – in what UFC CEO, Dana White-billed as an official middleweight championship-eliminator prior to the flagship event, Chimaev has opened as a -340 betting favorite to beat middleweight titleholder, Strickland, with the Covina native opening as a sizeable +270 betting underdog. 

Despite the immediate fallout from last night’s action in the desert, a host of bookies and markers are already offering odds on a potential championship showcase between Strickland Chimaev, including free bet no deposit wagers, and even prop bets and outright winner wagers. 

Striking Octagon gold just last month in Sydney, Australia, Strickland turned in a spectacular upset win over former two-time championship holder, Israel Adesanya, landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over the City Kickboxing staple. 

And initially expected to fight the Nigerian-Kiwi in an immediate title fight rematch off the back of his upset win, Strickland had reportedly been approached to fight Chimaev on just 10 days’ notice at UFC 294 prior to the booking of his fight with ex-champion, Usman, before rejecting the bout promptly due to its’ short-notice nature.

Improving to 13-0 as a professional last night in his return to the middleweight limit for the first time since a shuddering first round knockout win over Gerald Meerschaert back in 2020, Khamzat Chimaev had most recently submitted Kevin Holland with a first round D’Arce choke submission win in September of last year, in another rebooked co-main event bout. 

Prior to that dominant victory, Chimaev had turned in a close, back-and-forth decision win over former welterweight title challenger and common-foe of the above-mentioned, Usman, Gilbert Burns in April of last year. 

And despite previous weight miss issues at the welterweight limit, Khamzat Chimaev has stood firm in his intentions to strike gold in not just one or two weight classes, but three, if afforded the opportunity, as he eyes fights with either incumbent 170 pound kingpin, Leon Edwards, or incoming UFC 296 title challenger, Colby Covington. 

With last night’s win over Usman, Chimaev is firmly expected to leapfrog current number one ranked middleweight contender, Dricus du Plessis and challenge for divisional gold against the previously mentioned, Strickland. 

Who wins in a future fight: Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev?

Khamzat Chimaev reveals he fractured right hand against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, unable to wrestle in fight

Khamzat Chimaev suffered fractured right hand at UFC 294 unable to wrestle Kamaru UsmanOff the back of his close victory over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman tonight in the co-main event…

Khamzat Chimaev suffered fractured right hand at UFC 294 unable to wrestle Kamaru Usman

Off the back of his close victory over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman tonight in the co-main event of UFC 294, streaking middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has claimed he suffered a fractured right hand in the opening round of their clash – forcing him to utilize a gameplan majorly free from wrestling in the remaining two frames.

Chimaev, who co-headlined UFC 294 tonight in Abu Dhabi, UAE, turned in his thirteenth straight professional win, landing a close, majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) victory over the former pound-for-pound number one in the Middle East.

Starting well against the Auchi native and landing a 10-8 round on scorecards, Chechen-born contender, Chimaev took Usman down early in the frame, and took his back, amassing a significant amount of control time, as well as threatening time and time again with numerous choke submissions. 

However, losing the second round to Usman, Chimaev appeared to slow down significantly in the second and third frame, capitalizing on a mistake from the former champion in the third and final round, winding up in side control and then half guard en route to his victory.

Khamzat Chimaev reveals hand injury suffered at UFC 294

And likely set for some time on the sidelines, Chimaev confirmed during an interview with ESPN after the bout with Usman, how he believes he fractured his right hand in the opening round of UFC 294, limiting his ability to wrestle.

“Khamzat Chimaev told me he thinks he broke his right hand in the first round, which made it hard to wrestle the final two rounds,” Brett Okamoto posted on his official X account.

Earning his first victory at the middleweight limit since a 2020 win over Gerald Meerschaert, Chimaev, who moves to 13-0 as a professional with his win tonight over Usman, has been lined up to fight for undisputed middleweight gold against recently minted champion, Sean Strickland in his next outing. 

Do you agree with Khamzat Chimaev’s judging win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294?

Islam Makhachev Dominates in Brutal Fashion, Cements Status Among UFC’s Best

Islam Makhachev has long been hailed as the next Khabib Nurmagomedov, but after Saturday’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi, there is reason to believe he may be…

Islam Makhachev has long been hailed as the next Khabib Nurmagomedov, but after Saturday’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi, there is reason to believe he may be…

Khamzat Chimaev lands close majority decision win over ex-Champion Kamaru Usman – UFC 294 Highlights

Khamzat Chimaev lands close majority decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 HighlightsUndefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has made good on his return to the middleweight limit tonight in Abu Dhabi,…

Khamzat Chimaev lands close majority decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 Highlights

Undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has made good on his return to the middleweight limit tonight in Abu Dhabi, landing a super close majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) victory over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294.

Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, managed to start off in stunning form tonight in the Middle East — taking Usman down early in the opening round, and riding out the remainder of the frame on Usman’s back, after threatening with a slew of rear-naked choke attempts and amassing a ton of top control on the Auchi native.

However, slowing down significantly in the second frame, Khamzat Chimaev failed to wrap up any successful takedown attempts on Usman in the second round, with the Nigerian turning up the pace and landing some decent strikes throughout the round.

And even in the third and final frame, Chimaev, who appeared quite fatigued in the round, was on the receiving end of some heavy strikes from Usman who began to put his hands together.

In the remaining two minutes and change of the third round, however, Chimaev capitalized on a kick miscue from Usman, landing in side control and then half guard of Usman — before the former champion managed to sweep and bring the action back to the feet for a striking showcase in the final moments of the bout.

Below, catch the highlights from Khamzat Chimaev’s close decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294