Khamzat Chimaev ‘has everything – but so do I’

Kamaru Usman considers himself to be just as much of a threat as Khamzat Chimaev.

Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC) will step in on short notice for a middleweight bout against Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 294 this Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card will be broadcast on pay-per-view at a unique time of 2 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+.

Chimaev has yet to suffer a defeat in his professional MMA career, but former UFC welterweight champion Usman aims to match him in every aspect of the fight.

“He’s highly skilled,” Usman told TMZ. “He’s strong, big, fast, and adept in wrestling, grappling, and striking. He possesses all the attributes – but so do I. Ultimately, we’re all human. Everyone feels invincible until someone comes in and bursts that bubble.”

In 2017, Usman secured a victory over the current UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. UFC CEO Dana White has announced that the winner of Usman vs. Chimaev will earn a title shot, and Usman believes it’s an obvious choice.

Although the win over Strickland occurred over six years ago in the welterweight division, Usman believes their history would add an extra layer of intrigue.

“It’s an inherent storyline,” Usman stated. “Sean Strickland is the champion. I’ve already dealt with him. Not to say he hasn’t improved – he definitely has. But I have a mountain to climb in front of me that I need to conquer, so we’ll focus on that first, and then we’ll worry about what comes next.”

For more information about the event, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie