Jorge Masvidal has played down Khamzat Chimaev’s prospects in the UFC, saying: “I haven’t seen anything that makes me a believer in this guy yet.”
Masvidal is one of the biggest stars in the UFC and is a two-time welterweight title challenger, while fellow 170lber Chimaev is the fastest-rising contender in the promotion.
Chimaev is unbeaten in professional mixed martial arts with a record of 10-0 (5-0 in the UFC), with all of his victories having come via finishes until his most recent outing. In April, the Russian-born Swede outpointed Gilbert Burns in a fight of the year contender to propel himself up the welterweight rankings.
Chimaev remarkably absorbed just one significant strike across his first four UFC contests, and the unbeaten 28-year-old is now scheduled to face Nate Diaz in the UFC 279 main event in September. Meanwhile, Masvidal – who beat fellow American Diaz via doctor stoppage in 2019 – is 0-3 in his last three outings, having lost twice while challenging reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman before losing to friend-turned-rival Colby Covington this March.
“[The Burns fight] was supposed to be his coming-out party, and it didn’t go according to plan,” Masvidal told MMA Fighting on Friday. “A lot of people felt Gilbert won that fight, a lot of people still think Gilbert won that fight.
“I don’t really think Khamzat is as good as they say he is. I’m more of a see-then-believe [guy], and I haven’t seen anything that makes me a believer in this guy yet.
“I personally would love to break his face. Once he starts selling pay-per-views and s*** like that, I wouldn’t mind breaking his f****** face.”
Chimaev was quick to hit back at the 37-year-old, writing on Twitter, “Wake up buddy @GamebredFighter,” along with two photos of Masvidal from the aftermath of the American’s knockout loss to Usman.
When asked how he believes Chimaev’s fight with Diaz will play out, Masvidal said: “They probably wanted to pair Diaz with someone stylistically that’s not the best. So, they gave him a boring-a** wrestler who is going to try and hug his legs and sniff his crotch.
“I think Khamzat probably wins, but I can see Nate putting him away in Rounds 4 or 5, because Khamzat doesn’t have that gas tank. He doesn’t have that experience, and I think he gets too in the moment where he’s wasting energy doing stupid s***.
“Nate is going to conserve all of that energy and get in his face when it counts. I think Khamzat should win, but I won’t be surprised if Nate stops his a**.”
