Gilbert Burns vs Khamzat Chimaev Fight is in works for UFC 274

One of the most highly talked about matchups of the year between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns has finally got home for itself at the fight is set to take place at UFC 274. The match was rumoured to take place at several events but the promotion has now finally settled at a date. UFC President Dane White first told TSN on Monday the welterweight bout was in the works for UFC 274 then later told The Underground that “it’s happening” at the April 9 pay-per-view event in Jacksonville, Florida.

Khamzat Chimaev made his promotional debut in a middleweight bout against John Phillips, replacing Dusko Todorovic, on July 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 13. He convincingly won the fight via submission in the second round. He then won back-to-back fights in the UFC in a mere 10 days span.

In his last fight, he fought the top UFC welterweight fighter Li Jingliang at UFC 267. Chimaev smashed Li on the ground before submitting him via rear-naked choke in the very first round of the fight.

Gilbert Burns is a former title challenger as he fought Kamaru Usman for the belt but lost the fight via TKO in the third round. He is coming off a decision win over top-ranked Stephen Thompson.

Khamzat Chimaev feels that the Gilbert Burns matchup won’t be as tough as many people think it might be.

“All those numbers mean nothing,” Khamzat Chimaev told RT Sport. “To be honest, I don’t see a real challenge in him. We’ll see. Everything may happen in a fight, but I’m confident, as usual. I think I will just smash him with my skills and power. I feel that way. He might feel different, but I will go there and do what I did the last time.”

Khamzat Chimaev is also confident that he will be beating Burns and then might get a chance to fight the winner of Covington and Masvidal which takes place at UFC 272.

“I think it’s 50/50. I don’t care which of them wins. I am fighting Burns now, then after beating Burns, hopefully, I will fight the winner of Masvidal-Covington, because it seems like Usman has a hand injury and needs time to recover. I hope he will recover soon. I am waiting for this guy, too. Looking forward to fighting him. But for now, I think the winner of our fight with Gilbert will fight the winner of Masvidal-Covington for the interim title or just the No. 1 contender spot. Then Usman should come back and we will fight him. This looks like a good plan to me,” Khamzat Chimaev added. [H/T BJPenn.com]