UFC welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev believes his next matchup will likely be against the former divisional champion, Kamaru Usman.
It could be Usman, 90 percent: Khamzat Chimaev
Currently nine months since his last fight, “Borz” is eyeing a comeback in October this year, at UFC 294 which will be heading to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on 21st October. His last fight dates back to September last year when he defeated Kevin Holland at UFC 279- a fight that took place at catchweight after Chimaev missed weight.
The 29-year-old is currently undergoing training at the Swedish capital and while his next opponent for October is yet to be determined, Chimaev wants his return to the Octagon to take place against “The Nigerian Nightmare”.
“We train as usual here in Stockholm. We were in Dubai for training camp, but came back now. Then, a month before the match, we will go to Abu Dhabi. But otherwise we train as usual here in Stockholm. We are ready for the match,” Chimaev told Swedish outlet Expressen.
“It could be Usman, 90 percent. But he’s talking about two kilos, he doesn’t want to gain two kilos (4.5 pounds). Dana White talks about 82 kilos (181 pounds). We’ll see. There was no other match. It’s just him.” [H/T BJPenn.com]
The UFC prez revealed that a fight at middleweight would be something he would be interested in, but not if Chimaev wants to fight Usman at catchweight.
“If he wants to move up to 185 and fight him, we can talk about it. But trying to fight him at a catchweight, I’m not interested in,” White said recently.
Usman has been out of action since his back to back defeats against Leon Edwards- first in August 2022 at UFC 278 when he was dethroned from his 170-pound throne, and then once again in the rematch at UFC 286 in March this year.
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