Khamzat Chimaev has nothing however respect for Kamaru Usman.
On Saturday, ‘Borz’ will return to the Octagon for the primary time in a 12 months when he meets Robert Whittaker in a possible middleweight title eliminator at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.
The battle will come nearly precisely one 12 months to the day that Chimaev final fought. That got here at UFC 294 when he went toe-to-toe with former welterweight world champion Kamaru Usman. Borz’ got here out on prime by way of a majority determination, shifting to 13-0 in his blended martial arts profession whereas handing ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ his third-straight loss contained in the Octagon.
Forward of this weekend’s high-stakes scrap with ‘The Reaper’ at Etihad Enviornment, Chimaev supplied his trustworthy ideas on Usman, calling him top-of-the-line fighters he’s ever had the privilege of competing towards.
“A variety of various things, makes a special mindset and quite a lot of good issues,” Chimaev advised Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports activities. “Kamaru is likely one of the greatest guys who I’ve confronted. He’s been No.1 pound-for-pound. Robert [Whittaker] hasn’t been there but. Me too.
“Individuals neglect who was Kamaru Usman. After I beat him, everybody was speaking about he’s not that good and this that, however that man is loopy good, man. If I take any individual’s again like I took his — he has a champion’s mindset. He didn’t give [up]. He had 5 minutes the place he defended his neck, however this isn’t that simple.”
Usman backs khamzat chimaev to return out on prime towards Robert Whittaker
Having gone three hard-fought rounds with the undefeated Chechen monster, it ought to come as no shock that Usman is backing Chimaev to return out on prime towards Whittaker within the UFC 308 co-main occasion.
“I don’t suppose you’re too harsh. I believe quite a lot of informal followers really feel the identical approach that you just really feel,” Usman stated on his Pound-4-Pound podcast. “And Robert Whittaker is a man that may grapple, or cease you from grappling, a man that may put collectively the combos that probably get you out of there. I believe Khamzat Chimaev is simply particular. If he is ready to get his fingers on you and drag you right down to the bottom, I believe he is ready to impose his will down there and probably get that end…
“Let me simply hold it quick… I like Robert Whittaker. I believe Robert Whittaker is tremendous proficient, particularly what he simply went on the market and did in disposing of Ikram. But when I had to decide on, I’m gonna go along with Khamzat Chimaev.”
