Kamaru Usman doesn’t doubt Khamzat Chimaev’s probabilities of taking UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis right down to the bottom.
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dominated former champ Robert Whittaker to earn a first-round submission in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main occasion in Abu Dhabi. Usman has first-hand expertise of Chimaev’s energy. Usman was taken down and managed for all of Spherical 1 of their matchup at UFC 294, however he managed to outlive the onslaught. He wound up shedding the bout by majority determination after rallying late.
Identical to how Chimaev managed to manage Whittaker, Usman doesn’t see it going any in another way for Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) – however perhaps not a end.
“Khamzat is hell in that first spherical,” Usman stated on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “He’s hell when he’s dry like that, and he’s huge and robust, and he nonetheless strikes like a welterweight. It’s hell for anyone. Do I feel he can try this to Dricus? I feel 100% he may take Dricus down.
“I feel he can preserve him down, however I don’t know if he can get the end as a result of Dricus could be very, very powerful. There’s a purpose Dricus is the champ. He’s very powerful, and Dricus is not going to cease making an attempt. Will Khamzat take him down? Sure. Might he preserve him down? Sure, perhaps the entire first spherical. However can he end him? I don’t know.”
Chimaev’s efficiency bought middleweight champion Du Plessis’ consideration, and he may find yourself leapfrogging Sean Strickland as No. 1 contender after UFC 308.
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