For the first time in his career, Khamzat Chimaev looked vulnerable in a fight after a three-round war against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.
While the undefeated welterweight eventually walked away with a win, Chimaev endured some dangerous moments, and he blamed himself for getting into those positions for not heeding his coaches’ advice.
“I was too excited to knock him out,” Chimaev explained at the UFC 273 post-fight press conference. “I’ve been telling everyone all week that I’m going to knock him out in one round. I tried turning it off. That was wrong for me from the start.
“The guy was tough, I didn’t accept that. From the first to the last second I tried to finish him off. Next time I’ll work to be a little smarter. I’m going to smash someone.
“It wasn’t surprising from him, but it was wrong for me. My trainer kept telling me that you love to throw down and do more technical work. I just want to take his head off. Next time I will work for it.”
Chimaev fired as soon as the fight started and he almost got a finish late in the opening round when he knocked down Burns with a nasty straight right hand. Burns not only survived, but charged back in the second round with a series of powerful punches that cut Chimaev’s face and wobbled him during some exchanges.
Though he plans to go back and watch the fight, Chimaev can already see his shortcomings after making his very first decision.
“I already know [what I did wrong]’ Chimaev said. “From the start I tried to turn him off. My trainer told me to start slow, work your jab and defend. I just went in and did some crazy stuff and I dropped him and got even more excited. I tried to finish him off. I had to let go of him and knock him out again.
“I will watch my fight [one more time] What is happening there. I don’t care about that shit. I will fight someone else again.”
In the days and weeks leading up to UFC 273, Chimaev and Burns engaged in some fiery trash talk, particularly at the pre-fight press conference and at the official weigh-in, where they had to be separated onstage.
After their fight on Saturday, Chimaev not only hugged Burns in the octagon, but also paid tribute to him while speaking with UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. He then stopped to check on the former title challenger as he received medical attention backstage.
While Chimaev won’t change his demeanor, he admitted that perhaps the general perception of his attitude was wrong because as much as he always tries to build up anticipation when he fights, that doesn’t take away the admiration he feels from his opponents.
“I said for all the guys in the UFC, they think I don’t respect the guys,” Chimaev said. “This is the game. I tried to play with his mind and make him make some mistakes. i love this shit I watched all the time, all that UFC shit. I try to learn from everyone and I respect all my opponents. Everyone does this for their family.
“Actually, it was a bit hard fighting him because I see his kids, they come to me, you fight my daddy, and I said, s***, f*** I don’t need that. I don’t want to argue with any daddy. I need a killer like me to kill someone and not care about that shit. I go to him, I said I respect you bro, sorry for the hits and we do this for our family and to have fun too.
If there’s an upside to a fight like this, Chimaev has proved many critics wrong about his ability to face adversity. He was up against much better competition and still found a way to win.
Chimaev suffered more damage on Saturday than in 10 previous fights of his career combined. But oddly enough, it was exactly what he wanted.
“I like that shit,” he said. “I love my bloody and sweaty face and kick someone, punch someone. Make money I have $50 Gs I’m happy.
“Before, I didn’t get this fight. It was my first fight like this. I loved it. I’ve waited a long time for this. I had 10 fights and 10 finishes but this fight happened. I bled, sweated and fought three rounds.”
The win will propel Chimaev – who finished 10th in MMA Fighting’s global rankings on the night – to the top of the welterweight division, where he will likely sit very close to a potential shot at reigning UFC champion Kamaru Usman. Ahead of the win, UFC President Dana White teased a possible fight between Chimaev and two-time title challenger Colby Covington later this year.
It seems that “Borz” is up to the challenge; On the other hand, he seems ready for whatever the UFC throws at him.
“If this guy doesn’t call the police and if Dana White doesn’t go to jail, I’m going to happily come to the fight and smash his face,” Chimaev said of Covington. “Naturally [I knock him out].
“I said everyone. I will fight everyone. said [Burns] was No. 2 and Khamzat is No. 11 and the fight did not bode well for Gilbert. Who cares about this shit? We all want to fight each other and make money. We fight for our families. I don’t care who I fight. I get my money, I get my $50 Gs, I knock someone out and I’m happy.”