Khamzat Chimaev believes that Kamaru Usman agreed to fight him because he sees Chimaev as a lucrative money fight, and while Chimaev is focused on his upcoming bout against Usman, he ultimately wants to defeat all opponents and earn multiple titles in the UFC.
Khamzat Chimaev is ready to take on any challengers who are looking for a big payday. With Paulo Costa‘s withdrawal, Kamaru Usman, the former UFC welterweight champion, has stepped in to face Chimaev in a middleweight bout this weekend at UFC 294. This unexpected matchup has generated a lot of anticipation among fans. Chimaev believes that Usman is taking this risk because he sees him as a money fight. Speaking at the UFC 294 media day, Chimaev explained that he wouldn’t have gone down to the welterweight division if Usman had the belt, but since he doesn’t, there’s no point in cutting the weight for nothing. Chimaev believes that Usman is only here to make money and that he gets a significant payday when someone fights him.
The bad blood and the possibility of a title shot against Sean Strickland made the fight with Costa even more enticing. However, now that Usman has entered the picture, Chimaev admitted that he’s even more excited to face him than Costa. Chimaev considers Usman to be the old version while he sees himself as the new and improved version. He compared it to different versions of iPhones, emphasizing his confidence in his skills and abilities.
Chimaev has been undefeated since he turned pro in 2018, with a perfect 6-0 record in the UFC. He has finished five of his six UFC opponents and showcased his abilities by submitting Kevin Holland in less than half a round in his most recent fight. Despite his inactivity, Chimaev is willing to wait for a title shot as long as he needs to. He mentioned that he’s not solely after the title; his goal is to defeat everyone in the UFC and make money while doing so. Chimaev believes that if he keeps finishing his opponents, the UFC will have no choice but to give him all the belts.
In conclusion, Chimaev is prepared to take on any challengers who are looking for a big payday. His matchup against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 is highly anticipated. Chimaev believes that Usman sees him as a money fight, and he views this opportunity as a stepping stone to his goal of claiming all the belts in the UFC. Despite the cancellation of the fight with Paulo Costa, Chimaev is even more excited to face Usman, whom he considers to be the old version, while he sees himself as the new and improved version.