Domination MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz reckons Kamaru Usman’s odds against Khamzat Chimaev, but he’s hoping The Nigerian Nightmare fights Borz sooner rather than later.
Abdelaziz believes Chimaev will be virtually unbeatable in about two years, but for now the Chechen-born Swede is “very young” in the sport and therefore prone to mistakes.
Because of this, Abdelaziz believes Usman should fight Khamzat as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the undefeated welterweight to develop and hone his craft.
“Khamzat is young, you know. If you want to beat Khamzat, you fight him now, you understand that because you’re very young in the sport,” Abdelaziz, who manages Usman, told ESPN in a recent interview (h/t Sportskeeda).
“Remember you have five fights but I think it’s an open season in that division, you know I think it’s everyone else and it’s Kamaru but when you talk about Kamaru it’s a completely different one class,” he added. “In a year or two, he will be [Chimaev is] will be very, very hard to beat, but for now he’s human. He can beat anyone [and] People can hit him, you know.”
Khamzat last fought at UFC 273, where he defeated Gilbert Burns in a Fight of the Year nominee in which Chimaev earned the first decision win of his career. UFC President Dana White confirmed Chimaev’s next opponent will be Colby Covington, although Khamzat is more than open to a five-round rematch with Burns.