While it may not be an ideal situation given his own big welterweight clash next week, Belal Muhammed believes Khamzat Chimaev could, indeed, walk straight into a UFC title shot at 170 pounds if victorious over Gilbert Burns this weekend.
Chimaev (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) made it clear that he believes a victory at UFC 273 should earn him a shot at reigning champion Kamaru Usman, altering the promotion's current plans to give Leon Edwards a crack at the title, and Muhammad doesn't find the idea all that difficult to fathom. With the hype around Chimaev reminding Muhammad of the push Conor McGregor received on his rise to superstardom, he says a quick path to the top might be inevitable.
"It's frustrating, but it's like, I understand the game, and I understand what's going to sell, and the UFC goes with the hype," Muhammad said. "Obviously, they want to get something pushed quick because you never know what's going to happen because if Leon ends up beating Usman, then they've got to do that rematch, and then that puts Khamzat on the sideline again, and obviously, he's so high right now. He has the McGregor-esque attitude about him that they want to get him the spotlight right away.
