Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev had made no secret of his plan to become a UFC champion. With Kamaru Usman about to defend his welterweight title, at UFC 278 this weekend, and Chimaev headlining next month’s main event, the timeline might suggest a potential title shot for “Borz” in the coming months. Khamzat, however, told TheMacLife that he’s convinced that Usman would rather retire than fight him, simply because “The Nigerian Nightmare” is “scared”
“We will see. If Kamaru wins the fight, I think he gonna take long time to come back and maybe gonna retire. I think the guy’s scared of me. He always talk about maybe I finish, maybe I finish. I hope he gonna win the fight and I fight with him. But if he stays long time away, Jorge [Masvidal] starts to talk too much, I might have to smash his face as well.”
Chimaev Convinced That Usman is “Scared” Of Him
Khamzat actually found himself matched up against Leon Edwards, Usman’s opponent for this weekend, several times in 2021. Edwards has long been a top contender at welterweight, but UFC 278 represents the English fighter’s first shot at UFC gold.
Khamzat, on the other hand, bounced between welterweight and middleweight upon his UFC debut, settling for the moment at 170 pounds in pursuit of his own title. Although Chimaev expects Kamaru Usman to win this weekend, it’s entirely possible that we finally see Edwards vs Chimaev in the aftermath of the next few months’ worth of UFC events.
“Yeah, from that time to when they meet the last time, they’re both completely different. Kamaru’s getting much better boxing and Leon’s getting better wrestling. It’s interesting fight for me as well to watch that fight.
I actually told my manager, let me fight at 84 [kilograms] as well, but he said let’s wait and focus on 170, take the belt then go up. We will see. I’m ready for everyone. When I said I can fight with Brock Lesnar, it’s real, I can fight with him. If they give me $1 million, no problem. Let’s fight who they want. Kamaru Usman, doesn’t matter.”
Khamzat Chimaev’s next fight will be against perennial fan favorite Nate Diaz, which will headline UFC 279. Diaz is on the last fight of his UFC contract, and Chimaev is a heavy favorite to win the bout. Assuming he does, he may well find himself forcing his way into the welterweight title conversation, which has been dominated by the three-way rivalry between Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, and champ Kamaru Usman for the better part of the last three years.
Is Khamzat Chimaev right about Kamaru Usman? Let us know in the comments.
