Unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday night inflicted third straight defeat on Nigeria born former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a middleweight bout at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Chimaev won his 13th bout in the division after a decision win over the Nigerian at UFC 294.
Chimaev wasted little time in getting right to work in the fight as he went after a single-leg in the opening moments of the fight. While Usman initially defended it well, Chimaev stayed persistent and got the Nigerian Nightmare to the floor.
From there, he controlled the duration of the round, spending most of the period on Usman’s back and threatening with submissions.
The story of this epic showdown took a surprising twist as Usman stepped into the Octagon on short notice after Chimaev’s original opponent, Paulo Costa, was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.
Despite the limited preparation, Usman displayed sheer determination and showcased his warrior spirit against one of the sport’s elite fighters.
The judges’ scorecards were the topic of much debate.