Khamzat
Chimaev can take another step closer to a title shot with a
victory over Nate Diaz in
the UFC
279 headliner on Saturday, but he’s willing to weigh his
options if the promotion goes in a different direction.
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After Leon
Edwards upset of Kamaru
Usman in the UFC 278 headliner, a decent possibility exists
that an immediate trilogy — potentially in England — could be in
store given Usman’s run of dominance prior to that defeat. If that
turns out to be the case, Chimaev told ESPN
that he could turn his attention to the middleweight division and
the winner of the title fight between Israel
Adesanya and Alex Pereira slated for UFC 281.
“If they want to do [the trilogy], for me no problem,” Chimaev
said. “I’m gonna take some other fight, and we will see what’s
happening. Maybe Israel
Adesanya or the other guy, Pereira. Who wins that, maybe fight
with them. I don’t know.”
Prior to UFC 278, Usman had a 15-bout winning streak in the Octagon
and had entered GOAT discussions opposite welterweight legend
Georges St.
Pierre. He also entertained a transition to light heavyweight
as well as a boxing match against Canelo Alvarez. Chimaev believes
“The Nigerian Nightmare” may have lost his focus amid all the
hype.
“It was a crazy fight, good fight,” Chimaev said. “I learned a lot
of things about that fight. It was funny to watch. The guy was too
much high up: ‘I’m gonna fight with Canelo,’ He wasn’t focused and
he said, ‘I’m always focused,’ and a lot of things. ‘I want to make
money.’ … Leon comes and shot his head, dropped the guy.”
Chimaev also expressed a sentiment that hasn’t been uncommon in the
MMA community, that Usman won’t be able to recover the unbeatable
aura following such a devastating loss.
“I don’t think he’ll be the same guy again. In the mind. We’ve seen
a lot of champions thinking, ‘Nobody can beat me,’ because he
defend so many times, ‘Now I’m unbeatable,’ that kind of thing, and
bam, somebody knock you out. Now you know you’re human, as
well.”