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Khamzat Chimaev Opines Kamaru Usman ‘Wasn’t Focused’ Before Taking On Leon Edwards At UFC 278

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Saikat Banerjee
Saikat Banerjee
A wordsmith who indulges in the world of combat sports, Saikat Banerjee is an MMA, boxing, and arm wrestling content writer at The MMA India Show and The Sports Room. Apart from combat sports, he also engages in Indian sports content at The Sports India Show. Currently pursuing an MBA from Jadavpur University, Saikat's other interests lie in motorcycling, working out, and travelling.
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UFC Welterweight stalwart Khamzat Chimaev points out lack of focus as the main curb for Kamaru Usman‘s recent upset against Leon Edwards at UFC 278 and believes the former divisional champ may not be the same fighter he used to be.

We’ve seen champions thinking no one can beat them: Khamzat Chimaev

Back in August, the main event of UFC 278 observed probably the biggest shocker of the year as Usman was dethroned from his 170-pound title in the rematch against Leon Edwards. Despite dominating Edwards throughout the five rounds, Usman suffered a brutal head kick KO with less than a minute remaining, making ‘Rocky’ the new Welterweight champ.

Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, UFC 278
Leon Edwards defeated Kamaru Usman via head kick KO at UFC 278. (Image Courtesy: UFC)

Since then, many have expressed different opinions on the result and how a potential trilogy between the two may play out. However for Khamzat Chimaev, who is edging closer and closer to a title shot, believes it was the lack of focus which caused Usman’s upset and also believes that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ might never become the same fighter he used to be.

“It was a crazy fight, good fight. I learned a lot of things about that fight. The guy (Usman) was too much high up ‘I’m gonna fight with Canelo,’ and he got shot,” Chimaev told Brett Okamoto of ESPN in a recent interview.

“He wasn’t being focused. I don’t think he’ll be the same guy again in the mind,” Borz went on, “We’ve seen a lot of champions thinking no one can beat (them), because he defend so many times, now (he’s) unbeatable, that kind of thing, and bam, somebody knock you out. Now you know you’re human, as well.”

Despite the recent setback, Kamaru Usman remains one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts and Chimaev, who is due to square off against Nate Diaz at UFC 279 on 10th September, does hope to face the Nigerian in the Octagon sometime in future.

“If it will happen, it will be a big fight. Everyone wants to see that fight, because he’s almost the same kind of fighter like me. Good wrestling, good boxing, but his grappling is terrible. Leon Edwards took him down, take his back. If I take his back, I squeeze off his head. Everyone wants to see that fight,” Chimaev added. [H/T BJPenn.com]

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