Undefeated welterweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev (12-0 UFC) has looked nigh-indomitable, with dominant grappling skills that has been likened to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s and explosive striking power, the latter of which was demonstrated when he knocked out UFC veteran Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds with a single punch in the first round of their fight. Of Chimaev’s 12 fights, he’s won 6 by knockout and 5 by submission, with his only fight going past the second round being the three-round war he fought against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, a match which Chimaev won by unanimous decision. Chimaev has steamrolled nearly every fighter in his path and arguably has some of the most hype surrounding him of any active UFC fighter.
Current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) however thinks that Chimaev’s hypetrain is overexaggerated.
“He’s a good fighter, (but) I don’t think he’s what the UFC was building him to be, like this untouchable monster,” Edwards said in a recent interview with Michael Bisping. “He’s a solid fighter, he’s good, but there’s always ways to beat these guys. This is why I’m on an 11-fight win streak.
“He’s a solid fighter, he’s good, but there’s always ways to beat these guys. This is why I’m on an 11-fight win streak.
“I’m not just going to go out there and scrap with you. I know how to fight.”
Edwards’ next fight is expected to be a trilogy bout at UFC 286 in London against Kamaru Usman, from whom Edwards recently took the welterweight title at UFC 278. If all goes according to plan and Edwards wins the deciding match against Usman, then he’s willing to get Chimaev a title shot down the line provided he can make weight at 170 pounds (Chimaev missed weight for a five-round welterweight main event against Nate Diaz at UFC 279 in Vegas).
“He’s on my list as well that I want to take out,” Edwards said of Chimaev. “So let him go make weight, probably fight Colby (Covington) or something like that, and we can run that on as well.”
Do you think Leon Edwards is right to be doubtful of the Khamzat Chimaev hype? Let us know in the comments.
