Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev are ready to roll for UFC 294.
Fight fans thought they would be seeing Chimaev take on Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 294 on October 21. The grudge match was called off after it became clear that Costa wasn’t going to be ready after undergoing elbow surgery. Luckily for the UFC, Usman was ready to step up. The late replacement fight will be contested for a shot at Sean Strickland’s UFC Middleweight Championship.
Kamaru Usman & Khamzat Chimaev Chime In On UFC 294 Battle
Chael Sonnen served as a special interviewer for an ESPN SportsCenter segment with Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev. Usman has competed at the highest levels, being a former UFC welterweight champion. “The Nigerian Nightmare” says the challenge of moving up a weight class doesn’t faze him.
“It makes no difference,” Usman said. “At the end of the day, just like the saying goes, fighters fight. As I’m sure he’s excited for the matchup, so am I.”
As for Chimaev, he believes some are already making excuses on Usman’s behalf, although he seemed to be taking aim at fans rather than his opponent or his team.
“I don’t know what to say,” Chimaev said. “Just come here to smash the guy, man. So, respect for a guy that takes the fight, short notice, everything. They already have excuses, not Usman. A lot of people say this, but Usman takes the fight.”
Sonnen asked “Borz” if he has a prediction for how the fight against Usman will play out. Chimaev responded with the following:
“You can’t give a prediction before the fight,” Chimaev said. “Everyone says, ‘Gonna do that, gonna this, that,’ in the cage, everything is going different way.”
Usman didn’t commit to a clear-cut prediction either, but he did say it all comes down to who can execute their game plan more effectively.
“I think that’s what we do,” Usman said. “Just like he’s planning to step in there and get his hand raised, so am I hand. He’s prepared, so am I. So, on Saturday night we’re both gonna step in there, they’re gonna close that door and whoever’s game plan starts to unravel, the other opponent’s gonna have their hand raised.”
Here is the full ESPN SportsCenter segment with Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev:
