Khamzat Chimaev believes he’d have an easier time defeating Israel Adesanya than Kamaru Usman.
Chimaev is set for his biggest test yet as he faces former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns at the upcoming UFC 273 pay-per-view card taking place April 9.
Many in the combat sports world are high on Chimaev, and if he is able to defeat Burns in comprehensive fashion, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see “Borz” get a title shot.
Chimaev certainly feels that way.
“I think I have to fight for the title,” Chimaev said on The MMA Hour. “Who is the next guy out there? Ten fights, 10 finishes. After [the Burns fight], 11 fights, 11 finishes. And what are they going to say? The guy is No. 2 in the rankings. Now they talk about, ‘Oh, you didn’t fight somebody in the rankings.’ Now, if I beat this guy — No. 2 — what are you going to say?”
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Khamzat Chimaev: Israel Adesanya Has ‘Zero Wrestling’
Chimaev has already spoken of not only conquering the welterweight and middleweight division, but a third division as well.
A win over Burns could see him achieve the first step by facing and defeating Usman. If he is to do that, his sights will firmly be on the middleweight king in Adesanya.
But as far as Chimaev is concerned, he doesn’t believe “The Last Stylebender” will be much of a test.
He even believes it will be an easier outing than Usman.
“Izzy, I think it will be more easy for me to smash that guy [than Kamaru Usman],” Chimaev said. “He has zero wrestling. The guy he fought last time, he’s not a wrestler — he took his back.
“If I take his back, brother, I’ll squeeze his head off. I’ll take his head off. Easy money for me.”
Do you believe Khamzat Chimaev can easily defeat Israel Adesanya?
