Tag: Khamzat Chimaev

Colby Covington Calls Khamzat Chimaev a Quitter and a Steroid Abuser: “He’s not that good.”

Colby Covington Calls Khamzat Chimaev a Quitter and a Steroid Abuser: "He’s not that good."Colby Covington has taken aim at rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev, calling him a “quitter” and accusing him of…

Colby Covington Calls Khamzat Chimaev a Quitter and a Steroid Abuser: "He’s not that good."

Colby Covington has taken aim at rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev, calling him a “quitter” and accusing him of steroid abuse. Covington, who had a challenging year in 2024, made the comments during an interview, questioning Chimaev’s skills and credibility.

Colby Covington Scorches Khamzat Chimaev

“I wanted that fight for a long time. He ran from the fight, he couldn’t make weight, he was just unprofessional,” Covington said, speaking to Submission Radio. “The guy was juiced, and he quit. The guy was freaking retiring to the common cold. I’m not going to be afraid of someone who’s retiring to the common cold.”

Covington’s comments come amid a tough go for the fighter, who has suffered two consecutive losses, including a third-round TKO defeat to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa on December 14, 2024. Despite the setbacks, Colby Covington remained outspoken, as he has often been throughout his UFC career.

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While Covington has been struggling in recent bouts, Chimaev has been on a tear. The undefeated middleweight contender made headlines with his dominant first-round submission victory over former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 on October 26, 2024. This win pushed ‘Borz‘ Khamzat Chimaev to the #3 spot in the UFC middleweight rankings and extended his professional record to 14-0.

Khamzat Chimaev

However, Covington believes Chimaev’s success may be short-lived if he faces the right opponent. “I know I can stop his takedowns and it becomes a striking fight,” Covington stated. ” I don’t know if his cardio can hang for five rounds. We saw in the Gilbert [Burns] fight how Gilbert exposed his cardio. He doesn’t have good cardio. If you can stuff those takedowns in the first or second round, get him to deep waters, he’s not that good of a fighter.”

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Covington emphasized that if Chimaev is unable to execute early takedowns, his opponents would have a chance to defeat him. “If he’s able to get you down in that first takedown, in that first minute or two, yeah, then he’s dangerous, because then he can implement his will on you,” Covington continued. “But if you can stuff those first couple of takedowns, he becomes human, and he becomes a very beatable guy.”

Khamzat Chimaev is most likely going to be fighting for a UFC middleweight title in his next bout against the winner of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland. The welterweight Colby Covington currently has no booked fights.

Khamzat Chimaev Is Not Ready to Fight For a Title Yet Claims Former UFC Contender

Khamzat Chimaev Is Not Ready to Fight For a Title Yet Claims Former UFC ContenderThe question of Khamzat Chimaev’s next fight has sparked a debate among former UFC fighters turned analysts. Chael Sonnen…

Khamzat Chimaev Is Not Ready to Fight For a Title Yet Claims Former UFC Contender

The question of Khamzat Chimaev’s next fight has sparked a debate among former UFC fighters turned analysts. Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier have voiced contrasting opinions on whether the undefeated phenom is ready for a title shot or should face rising star Bo Nickal.

Next for Khamzat Chimaev?

Former UFC title contender Chael Sonnen believes the UFC should match Khamzat Chimaev against Bo Nickal, a fellow undefeated prospect, instead of immediately pushing him toward a championship opportunity.

“Chimaev’s undefeated. Bo’s undefeated. Chimaev’s good with the wrestling. Bo’s good with the wrestling,” Sonnen said on a podcast. “Chimaev’s got a bunch of fans, and Bo’s an up-and-comer and a future title contender. Check, check, and check for Bo. I don’t know why we’re keeping them apart. When you’ve got guys under contract, make the fights you can make while you can make them. Those contracts exhaust and run out when you try to build a fight too slowly.”

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Bo Nickal, a three-time NCAA wrestling champion, has been on a meteoric rise in the middleweight division since his UFC debut in March 2023. With a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC, including three finishes, Nickal’s performances have positioned him as one of the most promising talents in the sport.

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On the other hand, former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier argues that Chimaev’s recent dominance justifies an immediate title shot.

“Fill in whoever is the middleweight champion. It’s going to either be [Sean] Strickland or [Dricus Du Plessis],” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “One of those two guys needs to fight Khamzat Chimaev. We have got to know, right? It’s too hard to live in the unknown for this long. … He beat Robert Whittaker—that’s enough for me. When you can do what he did to Rob, that’s enough. Give me Chimaev. Give me the DDP-Strickland winner.”

Khamzat Chimaev debuted in the UFC in 2020 and has remained undefeated with a record of 7-0. Known for his grappling and relentless aggression, he recently secured back-to-back victories over Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker. His dominant first-round submission win against Whittaker has further fueled calls for a title shot.

10 UFC Fights We Want to See in 2025

It’s just been just shy of three weeks since Joaquin Buckley busted up Colby Covington in the most recent UFC fight. As is often the case when the promotion…

It’s just been just shy of three weeks since Joaquin Buckley busted up Colby Covington in the most recent UFC fight. As is often the case when the promotion…

Michael Bisping Includes Khamzat Chimaev & Tatiana Suarez On List of Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

The last two years have produced a staggering amount of title changes in the UFC. Following the record-tying eleven times that we heard “And New” in 2023, 2024 saw seven fighters capture the gold. Valentina Shevchenko, Raquel Pennington, Julianna Peña, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, Belal Muhammad and Dricus Du Plessis all got their hands on […]

The last two years have produced a staggering amount of title changes in the UFC. Following the record-tying eleven times that we heard “And New” in 2023, 2024 saw seven fighters capture the gold.

Valentina Shevchenko, Raquel Pennington, Julianna Peña, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, Belal Muhammad and Dricus Du Plessis all got their hands on the most coveted prize in MMA but former champion Michael Bisping believes that 2025 will see less movement. In a recent episode of Fight Week on TNT Sports, Bisping (alongside co-hosts Adam Catterall & Nick Peet) gave his predictions for who will end 2025 as the champion of each division.

He believes that four belts will be held by different competitors in 12-months time. At women’s strawweight, Bisping predicted that Tatiana Suarez will finally realize her true potential by becoming the new champion whether or not she defeats Weili Zhang in the co-main event of UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia this February.

“I’ve got to go with Tatiana Suarez – I did say that this time last year. Of course, she’s fighting Zhang Weili, so we’ll see how that plays out. I just think the wrestling that Tatiana Suarez has is going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. This time next year, one way or another, she’ll be the champ.”

Bisping also believes that the women’s bantamweight division will have a new face in the form of Kayla Harrison. The former PFL star has made a huge impact since arriving in the UFC, producing back-to-back wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira to put her in title contention.

“The women’s bantamweight champion, there’s only going to be one name in discussion: Kayla Harrison. No offense to Julianna Peña, I think she’s great for the sport, she’s a fun person. She’s fun to sit and watch fights with because she talks a lot of s-h-i-t the whole time. She’s great, but Kayla Harrison, I believe, will be too big, too strong, too good at judo, too mentally strong, too fit. She’ll drag her down, she’ll get the submission, and she’ll also get the belt.”

The middleweight title is also set to be on the line at UFC 312 on February 8 but “The Count” does not see either man in that matchup ending the year on top. He believes that Khamzat Chimaev will become the champion by the end of the year, regardless of who he has to face to finally get his hands on the belt.

“It’s interesting because I’m looking at the rankings here. I never thought we’d see a year where Robert Whittaker wasn’t in the conversation. It just shows the sport is such a cruel mistress. Obviously, Khamzat Chimaev squeezed his teeth out last time, and yeah, I’m gonna have to say Khazmzat. Dricus (Du Plessis) is a tremendous champion. I think him and Sean (Strickland) will have another close fight, but I think regardless, when Khamzat gets his chance, he’ll be victorious. I mean, what he did to Robert Whittaker – I’ll never underestimate that man ever again.”

Last but not least, the Brit rounds out his four changes with a big one. Not only does Bisping think that Jon Jones will face Tom Aspinall this year, he predicts that the interim champion will unify the belts by becoming the first man to defeat the consensus greatest of all time (not including Matt Hamill via disqualification).

“If there is an interim champion, it will be Tom Aspinall. However, I don’t think there will be one. I believe that the reason Tom isn’t fighting at London is because Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall will go down. The biggest heavyweight fight the sport has ever seen. Maybe the biggest fight period that this sport has ever seen. Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and when the dust settles, ‘Tommy Aspinall, Aspinall, Tommy Aspinall! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na!’”

‘No One Beats DDP’ – Fans Debate Khamzat Chimaev Being Betting Favorite To End 2025 As UFC MW Champion

The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and the betting line for one particular division has caused a stir… As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings has the middleweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned. […]

The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and the betting line for one particular division has caused a stir…

As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings has the middleweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned.

Opening odds for who will have UFC gold in their possession in 12 months’ time recently emerged, with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev being favorite to be occupying the middleweight throne by the end of 2025.

As it stands, he’d have to unseat Dricus Du Plessis to do so. The South African will enter the year with the crown after a 2024 in which he took it from Sean Strickland and defended it against Israel Adesanya.

The odds have “Stillknocks” as the second favorite to finish 2025 as champ at +120, being pipped to the post by “Borz’s” -200 line.

That, in addition to the figures beside names like Caio Borralho, Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov and Adesanya, have split opinion in the MMA community online.

The first chance to dent Du Plessis’ chances of another Christmas as king has fallen to Strickland, who is set to face the South African in a rematch next February. The pair will headline UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia 13 months on from their close five-round contest in Canada.

Former UFC Star Believes Four New Champions Will Rise in 2025

Former UFC Star Believes Four Fresh Champions Will Emerge in 2025Former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping believes things will look a lot different in the UFC once 2025 comes to…

Former UFC Star Believes Four Fresh Champions Will Emerge in 2025

Former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping believes things will look a lot different in the UFC once 2025 comes to a close.

During a recent appearance on TNT Sports’ Fight Week, ‘The Count’ suggested that four fighters will become first-time champions over the next year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of those names is the undefeated Chechen monster, Khamzat Chimaev.

“It’s interesting because I’m looking at the rankings here. I never thought we’d see a year where Robert Whittaker wasn’t in the conversation,” Bisping said. “It just shows the sport is such a cruel mistress. Obviously, Khamzat Chimaev squeezed his teeth out last time, and yeah, I’m gonna have to say Khazmzat. Dricus (Du Plessis) is a tremendous champion.

“I think him and Sean (Strickland) will have another close fight, but I think regardless, when Khamzat gets his chance, he’ll be victorious. I mean, what he did to Robert Whittaker – I’ll never underestimate that man ever again” (h/t MMA Junkie).

Next up on Bisping’s list was another undefeated standout — Tatiana Suarez.

After going 10-0 in her mixed martial arts career, the Covina, California native will attempt to cash on her first shot at UFC gold when she challenges Zhang Weili for the strawweight crown at UFC 312 on February 8.

“I’ve got to go with Tatiana Suarez,” he said. “I did say that this time last year. Of course, she’s fighting Zhang Weili, so we’ll see how that plays out. I just think the wrestling that Tatiana Suarez has is going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. This time next year, one way or another, she’ll be the champ.”

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‘The Count’ also believes 2025 will see former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison claim her first belt under the UFC banner.

“The women’s bantamweight champion, there’s only going to be one name in discussion: Kayla Harrison,” Bisping said. “No offense to Julianna Peña, I think she’s great for the sport, she’s a fun person. She’s fun to sit and watch fights with because she talks a lot of s-h-i-t the whole time.

“She’s great, but Kayla Harrison, I believe, will be too big, too strong, too good at judo, too mentally strong, too fit. She’ll drag her down, she’ll get the submission, and she’ll also get the belt.”

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Bisping picks Tom Aspinall to defeat Jon Jones in inevitable UFC title unification clash

Last but not least is Tom Aspinall, the UFC’s reigning interim heavyweight world champion. Aspinall captured the temporary title in November 2023 with a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, he’s defended the belt against Curtis Blaydes while waiting for Jon Jones to settle some business with former two-time champ Stipe Miocic.

With Jones handing Miocic a decisive defeat at UFC 309, all signs point toward Aspinall finally merging his title with Jones’ undisputed heavyweight crown in what could very well become the biggest fight in the division’s storied history.

“If there is an interim champion, it will be Tom Aspinall,” Bisping said. “However, I don’t think there will be one. I believe that the reason Tom isn’t fighting at London is because Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall will go down. The biggest heavyweight fight the sport has ever seen. Maybe the biggest fight period that this sport has ever seen. Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and when the dust settles, ‘Tommy Aspinall, Aspinall, Tommy Aspinall! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na!’”

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Last year, Bisping went 6-12 on his year-end predictions, correctly predicting that Alexandre Pantoja, Islam Makhachev, Dricus Du Plessis, Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall (interim), and Jon Jones would end 2024 as world champions.