Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman Targeted For UFC 294?

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman?

Dana White says Kamaru Usman pulled up to UFC headquarters to specifically lobby for a fight with Khamzat Chimaev next.

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Usman himself has hinted at Chimaev being his next opponent, “A fight with myself and Khamzat? Boom, I"m kind of in a place right now where I"m having fun with it, and what"s the biggest, funnest, and most intense fight that really makes me feel something? That"s a fight right there. That could headline a pay-per-view." Usman told ESPN earlier this month. Usman was then asked if he would face Chimaev at middleweight, “Potentially, he"s a fighter, I"m a fighter at the end of the day. I fight these guys" heart, not their weight. I"ve been able to deal with middleweights and light heavyweights in the gym and if he wants a shot at the welterweight strap, you kind of have to give a little bit and show I can get down there and do it. But if it"s up a weight, potentially." Usman answered.

Usman, now 35 years old is coming off of a majority decision title loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 286 in March earlier this year. Before that bout, Edwards had captured the welterweight title at UFC 278 in August last year by knocking out  Usman via. head kick with under a minute remaining in the fifth and final round. Usman had previously beaten Edwards in December 2015 via. Unanimous Decision. Usman is now on a two-fight losing streak but before that, he was 15-0 in the UFC and was on a 19-fight win streak. Usman"s title reign lasted from March 2019 to August 2022, he successfully defended his title five times.

Chimaev is currently living and training in Abu Dhabi as he"s expecting to hear official fight news shortly Chimaev said on his YouTube channel. “UFC told us we have a fight in Abu Dhabi, so that"s what I"m waiting for. I"m already here in Dubai, living here, training camp, everything is good, so I"ve been in shape a long time ago. I"ve been in Thailand training camp, I"ve been here training camp, I"ve been in Sweden training, so just waiting for the opponent and the contract, so we"ll see what"s going to happen."

Chimaev then turned his attention to “The Nigerian Nightmare" Kamaru Usman, “Usman wants to fight. I"ll make his last fight. He wants money, he knows where the money is, everyone knows the money. Now I"m going to fight this guy in Abu Dhabi and smash his face, finish him, then they have to give me that title shot."  Chiamev then explained his drawing power, “I"m the biggest name without the belt, so when you fight with me, it"s more money, more fans. When I fight everyone is waiting for my fights, when I fought with Gilbert [Burns], we weren"t the main event, everyone was waiting for us." Colby Covington and Usman may have something to say about Chiamev"s declaration that he has the most draw of anyone without the belt in the welterweight division.

Chimaev finished by saying to Usman, “I want to say to Usman, I am ready, just sign the contract, let"s fight, let"s make money. You want the money, you want the money fight, let"s go. I"m going to squeeze your head off. Weight class doesn"t matter, let"s go, let"s fight. The weight class, if you feel the best, you don"t need to speak about weight class. I feel the best, for me it doesn"t matter, I cut on fight night to [170 lbs.] or [185 lbs.], all weight classes, I"m the king." Chimaev continued, “I want to fight for the title, so for me, it doesn"t matter which weight class. Give me title shot, I"m ready for both divisions, I"m ready for Usman, I"m ready for Leon, I"m ready for Israel [Adesanya], doesn"t matter, I"m ready for everybody."

Chimaev is undefeated at 12-0 and 6-0 in the UFC, his previous outing was against Kevin Holland at UFC 279 in September of last year, Chimaev defeated Holland via. SUB at a catchweight of 180 pounds after Chimaev had missed weight by nearly eight pounds for his fight with Nate Diaz at the event, but the card was shuffled around and Chimaev fought Holland instead.

Would a Chimaev vs. Usman bout interest you, what weight would you prefer to see the two fight at? Let us know in the comments below!

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