UFC 294 | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Khamzat Chimaev is looking absolutely shredded weeks ahead of his UFC 294 clash with Paulo Costa

Undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev is absolutely shredded weeks ahead of his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. By the time ‘Borz’ steps inside the cage at UFC 294, it will have been more than a year since his first-round destruction of Kevin Holland. With a dozen career wins and zero losses, Chimaev has established […]

Undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev is absolutely shredded weeks ahead of his highly anticipated return to the Octagon.

By the time ‘Borz’ steps inside the cage at UFC 294, it will have been more than a year since his first-round destruction of Kevin Holland. With a dozen career wins and zero losses, Chimaev has established himself as a title contender in practically any division he chooses. On October 21, he’ll attempt to put the entire middleweight division on notice when he squares off with one-time UFC title challenger Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi.

With the bout just a few short weeks away, Khamzat Chimaev looks to be in the best shape of his life, courtesy of an image shared by TheMACLife on Instagram.

With a Win over Costa, Will Khamzat Chimaev Secure Himself a Shot at Sean Strickland?

With Sean Strickland scoring a shocking unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, the middleweight title picture has been blown wide open with many, including former three-time title challenge Chael Sonnen, suggesting that Khamzat Chimaev’s fight with Paulo Costa could serve as a potential championship eliminator.

“Now it’s my time,” Chimaev said in his YouTube vlog. “Smash that guy [Costa], then it doesn’t matter if it will be Izzy or Strickland or somebody else. We’re coming for them.”

Borz’ is a perfect 6-0 inside the Octagon, his most notable victory coming against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. If he can add another big win against Costa in the UAE, Khamzat Chimaev will see himself thrust into the division’s top 10 and a likely candidate to challenge Sean Strickland next year.

Of course, he’ll have to go through his toughest test to date in Paulo Costa. Coming off a win over former middleweight champ Luke Rockhold in August 2022, ‘The Eraser’ is determined to climb back into the title picture after coming up short in his first title tilt with Israel Adesanya more than three years ago.

Sean O’Malley backs Charles Oliveira to beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, call out Khabib Nurmagomedov for superfight

Newly minted bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley has backed former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira to defeat the reigning division titleholder, Islam Makahchev at UFC 294 next month – in the hope of seeing a trilogy rubber match between the duo. Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender and former division champion, is slated to make […]

Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender and former division champion, is slated to make his return at UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, taking on prior foe, Makhachev in the pair’s championship rematch.

Returning to the winner’s enclosure since dropping a second round arm-triangle submission loss to the Russian back in October of last year, Sao Paulo native, Charles Oliveira stopped the surging, Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 back in June, landing a stunning opening round ground strikes TKO win over the Iranian-born grappler.

As for Makhachev, the American Kickboxing Academy staple successfully defended his lightweight crown for the first time back in February, landing a close, unanimous decision win over pound-for-pound best and featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski back in February at UFC 284.

Charles Oliveira urged to pursue Khabib Nurmagomedov superfight

According to O’Malley, however, he would love to see Oliveira secure his championship with a win over Makhachev – before setting up a trilogy rubber match, or a long-anticipated fight with the retired, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“I would love to see Charles (Oliveira) f*cking win [against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294],” Sean O’Malley said during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. “That would make for a huge trilogy. Maybe call Khabib (Nurmagomedov) out.”

Retiring from mixed martial arts competition back in October 2020, Nurmagomedov, now 35 years old, called time on his undefeated tenure with a second round triangle choke submission win over former interim champion, Justin Gaethje.

Winning lightweight gold against Michael Chandler the following year, Oliveira would go on to land victories over Dustin Poirier, and the above-mentioned, Gaethje in subsequent championship fights.

Who wins at UFC 294: Charles Oliveira or Islam Makhachev?

Charles Oliveira unhappy Islam Makhachev fight taking place in Abu Dhabi at UFC 294: ‘I don’t think it’s fair’

Former UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira speaks on Islam Makhachev taking place in Abu Dhabi, again. In just under a month, fans will be treated to a matchup between the two best lightweights in the world when Oliveira and Makhachev rematch. The bout will take place on October 21, almost a year to the day […]

Former UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira speaks on Islam Makhachev taking place in Abu Dhabi, again.

In just under a month, fans will be treated to a matchup between the two best lightweights in the world when Oliveira and Makhachev rematch. The bout will take place on October 21, almost a year to the day from the first fight and will be the main event of UFC 294.

Last time out, Makhachev took home the win, and the belt, after sinking in an arm triangle in the second round. Even though he was champion at the time, Oliveira had to travel to Makhachev’s backyard and will have to do so again.

Charles Oliveira talks traveling to Abu Dhabi again

Talking to James Lynch, Oliveira discussed the upcoming matchup and having to travel to Abu Dhabi again. ‘Du Bronx’ does feel that it is slightly unfair, especially considering the upcoming Brazil card, but is fully focused on regaining the title.

“With twelve years in the game, I just kinda learned how to play the game,” Oliveira began. “He knew that there was a UFC [event] in Sau Paolo, so I just wanted to shoot my shot and see if it would work, but here we are.”

“I don’t necessarily think it’s fair, but it’s the game. That’s where the champion is, he calls the shots. I’m gonna back for my belt, wherever that is. To be fair, all I want is to win. However it is, however I get it done. I don’t care. I just want my hand raised.”

The fight, however long it goes should be a fun one – Oliveira has made habit of putting on thrilling fights while Makhachev himself was recently a part of a brilliant fight with Alexander Volkanovski.

Charles Oliveira talks with James Lynch

Who wins in the rematch, Charles Oliveira or Islam Makhachev?

Exclusive: The Schmo praises Charles Oliveira’s ability to bounce back: ‘There’s something so special about him’

Renowned MMA journalist The Schmo would never bet against former UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira. On October 21, ‘Do Bronx’ will attempt to once again claim the 155-pound title as he challenges reigning champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 294, emanating from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Their highly anticipated title rematch […]

Renowned MMA journalist The Schmo would never bet against former UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira.

On October 21, ‘Do Bronx’ will attempt to once again claim the 155-pound title as he challenges reigning champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 294, emanating from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Their highly anticipated title rematch will come almost exactly one year removed from their first meeting. On that night, Oliveira suffered a disastrous second-round submission loss to the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ but has since bounced back with a convincing first-round TKO against top-10 contender Beneil Dariush.

Speaking with Mike Owens in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview, Dave Schmulenson, better known by MMA fans as The Schmo, spoke about Charles Oliveira’s impressive ability to come back from a devastating defeat, something that ‘Do Bronx’ has been doing throughout his entire career.

“If you look at Charles Oliveira, he’s the epitome of why combat sports are the greatest sports on the planet,” Schmulenson said. “He’s what makes the UFC brilliant. It’s that anyone can win on any given night and so many people… Look at all the dog fights. Look at the [Dustin] Poirier fight. Look at the [Justin] Gaethje fight. Look at the Michael Chandler fight. Everybody was writing off Charles Oliveira and he had moments in all those fights where you thought he’d get beat.

“For him to come, do what he does, finish fights, and do it in spectacular fashion. He’s got this aura about it. There’s something so special about him and even as I’ve interviewed him as The Schmo and we don’t speak the same language and there’s translators communicating, I’ve always felt an aura with him. A sense of confidence and this greater human achieving greater things and that’s why I say I would not doubt Charles Oliveira. I would not bet against Charles Oliveira because there’s just something so special about him.

“I’m very interested to see how this fight goes and I do know that Islam Makhachev is truly the real deal.”

Can Charles Oliveira Make Another Big Come Back at UFC 294?

Considered by many as the greatest lightweight in the history of the division, Charles Oliveira has seen his fair share of setbacks inside the Octagon. ‘Do Bronx’ has been finished eight times in his UFC career, but after dropping four out of six between 2015 and 2017, Oliveira saw a massive career resurgence, scoring 11 straight wins with only one of those victories coming by way of a decision.

During that run, Oliveira claimed the vacant lightweight title with a big win over Michael Chandler but tragically lost the belt on the scale after weighing in heavy for his UFC 274 scrap with Justin Gaethje. ‘Do Bronx’ went on to win the fight against Gaethje, but would come up short in his bid to reclaim the 155-pound crown against Makhachev at UFC 280.

Will Charles Oliveira solve the puzzle his second time around, or will the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ continue his reign of terror over the lightweight division?

Khamzat Chimaev sends message to former training partner Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 294: ‘I’m coming for him’

Khamzat Chimaev sends warning to newly crowned UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland. Strickland gave the middleweight division a serious shake up after defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. Strickland is now 185lb’s biggest target with numerous contenders gunning for his title. One of which is Chimaev, who seems to have made the permeant move up […]

Khamzat Chimaev sends warning to newly crowned UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland.

Strickland gave the middleweight division a serious shake up after defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. Strickland is now 185lb’s biggest target with numerous contenders gunning for his title.

One of which is Chimaev, who seems to have made the permeant move up to middleweight after missing weight at 170lbs. ‘Borz’ is set to take on former title challenger, Paulo Costa, at UFC 294 on October 21.

Khamzat Chimaev warns Sean Strickland

Talking on his YouTube channel, Chimaev has laid pout to capture the middleweight title and while he credited Strickland for his all his hard work to get to the top, makes it very clear that he will ‘smash anyone’ to get the title.

“Strickland, coming for him,” Chimaev began. “If you stay there, man, coming for you too. He works hard, deserves it, the guy is always in the gym, now he got the belt. He has a good team, good coach, I have been there, training with that guy.

“They deserve that belt. He has been active, fights with everybody. I don’t know why [the UFC] is waiting. Give that chance to me. They are hiding that belt from me. Anyway, like I said, when I smash everybody, they have to give that belt to me.” (H/T MMA Mania)

Continuing on, Chimaev claims that he is simply more improved at the new weight class and seems to be enjoying not having to cut as much weight.

“It’s a different weight class,” Chimaev said. “Different power, we eat different, not hungry anymore. At 77 kg, I eat just rice, rice [and] fish, rice [and] chicken, it’s crazy. Now, more training than before, more food, more energy, different power, different energy, that’s good.“

A win over Costa would send Chimaev into serious title contention and would probably have to fight only one more fight at the worst to secure a shot at the belt.

Khamzat Chimaev talks Sean Strickland in latest YouTube video

Who wins, Khamzat Chimaev or Sean Strickland?

Khamzat Chimaev blasts UFC for his inactivity ahead of October return: ‘They’re hiding that belt from me’

Undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has accused the UFC from preventing him from fighting for a championship under their banner, blaming the Dana White-led organization for his continued spell of inactivity since September of last year. Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 294 next month in Abu Dhabi, […]

Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 294 next month in Abu Dhabi, UAE – taking on one-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa in a return to the middleweight limit, as the two clash in a potential title-eliminator.

Sidelined from the Octagon since he took co-main event honors at UFC 279 last September, Chimaev landed his twelfth consecutive victory – defeating recent Noche UFC feature, Kevin Holland with a dominant opening round D’Arce choke submission win.

Khamzat Chimaev blames his lack of activity on the UFC

However, yet to compete in the entire year since, Chimaev, who had previously blamed the UFC for his lack of activity over the course of the last annum, has claimed the organization are preventing him from fighting for an Octagon title.

“I don’t know why the guys [UFC] are waiting,” Khamzat Chimaev said on his official YouTube channel. “Give that chance [to fight for a championship] to me. They are hiding that belt from me.”

“Anyway, like I said: when I smash everybody, they have to give that belt to me,” Khamzat Chimaev concluded.

Prior to his submission win over impromptu opponent, Holland, Chimaev turned in a close decision win over former welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns last year to boot – and also offered props to newly-crowned middleweight champion, Sean Strickland on his championship win over Israel Adesanya earlier this month.

“He works hard, he deserves it,” Khamzat Chimaev said of Sean Strickland. “The guy is always in the gym. Now he got the belt. He has a good coach, a good team. I’ve been there training with that guy. They deserve that belt. He has been active, and fights with everybody.”

Tag: UFC 294