Even though welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is on the sidelines, recovering from surgery on his hand, that does not mean the champ is not paying attention to the division.
During the last UFC event, Khamzat Chimaev emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle against Gilbert Burns. The bout was as hard as it gets.
Chimaev and Burns were at each other’s throats for the duration of the contest. Both showed their endurance. The bout was so entertaining that it immediately became a fan favorite.
The champion Kamaru Usman had more than enough reason to pay attention to the contest. For starters, Usman is a close friend and training partner of Gilbert Burns, secondly, the winner of the bout would most certainly be the next in line at a shot for UFC gold.
Recently, Usman commented on Chimaev’s last performance.
“There is something so pure with being in a fight,” Usman told the TMZ Sports reporter. “And that’s what you saw with Gilbern and Khamzat.”
“There’s just something so pure – and that’s what you saw with myself and Covington one [alluding to his first fight against Covington]”
“There is something about that… you never live to live through that.” Usman continued. “When you are there, and you get hit and you get hurt, and you make a conscious decision with yourself “I don’t care what happens today, I’m willing to die in here, to show you how big my heart is.”
The Welterweight champion then explained how having Chimaev as an opponent could bring this feeling in him once again.
“And I fell like in that fight [against Khamzat], that might take me to that place.”
“But, of course, I’m wiser now stylistic to where I know how to create easier openings for myself to be able to prevail in the fight.”
Usman still isn’t scheduled to comeback. It’s been speculated that he’ll make his way to the octagon sometime this summer. UFC President hinted that Leon Edwards would be the next one to challenge for Usman’s belt with the runner up being winner of Colby Covington Khamzat Chimaev.