Kamaru Usman reflects on short-notice middleweight bout against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294

Kamaru Usman recently showcased his toughness in a short-notice middleweight fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. Despite his valiant effort, Chimaev’s wrestling dominance in the first round seemed to put Usman at a disadvantage on the scorecards from the outset.

The following rounds were highly competitive, with Usman demonstrating striking superiority while Chimaev displayed impressive grappling skills. Ultimately, “Borz” secured a majority decision victory over the former welterweight champion, improving his MMA record to an impressive 13-0.

During the post-fight interview with Megan Olivi, Usman was candid about his performance, acknowledging that he should have started the fight more assertively. He expressed the need to trust himself and his coaches more and emphasized that he’s a championship fighter who cannot afford to begin slowly. He mentioned that with a few extra rounds, the outcome might have been different.

It’s worth noting that neither fighter had substantial time to prepare for this matchup. Usman’s short-notice appearance against Chimaev was a challenging task. Despite his admirable performance, Usman is now on a three-fight losing streak, with two of those losses being decided by majority decisions.