At the upcoming UFC 294, the co-main event will feature Kamaru Usman facing off against Khamzat Chimaev, who comes into the fight with a perfect record. While Usman is now on a two-fight losing streak, ‘Borz’ has knocked out the majority of his opponents in previous bouts with ragdolls.
When looking for an early finish, the UAE national who was born in Chechnya almost always utilizes a strategy that is heavy on wrestling from the very beginning of the match.
Even though such a strategy has been successful for him in the past, Usman feels that “Borz” is due for an unpleasant surprise if he utilizes similar strategies at Abu Dhabi.
During an interview with Daniel Cormier, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ responded to the question of whether or not he is prepared to counter Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy strategy by saying: “I am.”
“I believe so, I believe that he needs to make an effort [to impose his wrestling on me at an early stage].” If you don’t know something, you can’t know it. You are aware that ignorance can be joy. You might first believe that it will work on everyone, but after you actually attempt it, you might realize that it is not working and that you might need to try something else instead. So, we’ll have to see. I am ready for everything that comes my way.”
See what Kamaru Usman has to say about it below (10:22):
Kamaru Usman is widely considered to be one of the best welterweights in the history of the UFC. He currently has a record of 20-3 and served as the champion at 170 pounds for a period of time during which he successfully defended the championship five times.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” has victories over a number of the sport’s most notable competitors, like as the ex-welterweight kingpin Tyron Woodley, the ex-BMF title holder Jorge Masvidal, and the ex-interim welterweight champion Colby Covington.
Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev: MMA pros pick
Let’s take a look at how the professionals in the mixed martial arts world see the highly anticipated middleweight battle between Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev playing out. The bout is only a few hours away.
A recent episode of James Lynch’s widely renowned MMA Pros Pick included a number of top-tier fighters giving their opinions on the upcoming fight, which is being eagerly anticipated.
Cris Cyborg, who won the women’s featherweight title at the UFC, went with the name “Borz.” According to her opinion, Usman will have a difficult time dealing with Chimaev on such short notice.
Bryce Mitchell, a contender at the featherweight division rated tenth, showed a preference for Chimaev. “Thug Nasty” anticipated that there will be a lot of grappling during the competition.
Chris Gutierrez, a bantamweight competing in the UFC, selected ‘The Nigerian Nightmare.’ In his words:
“Usman is a good guy… It would be interesting to watch Chimaev go up against someone like Kamaru, who is accustomed to competing in championship bouts.
Watch the MMA Pros Pick episode in its entirety by clicking the link below:
The official website of the UFC states that Khamzat Chimaev is a -360 betting favorite for the fight, while Usman is listed as a +285 underdog for the contest.
