ABU DHABI – Khamzat Chimaev sees himself as a new and improved version of Kamaru Usman.
Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) welcomes former welterweight champion Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC) to the middleweight division in Saturday’s UFC 294 co-headliner at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view at a special time of 2 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+.
Chimaev was originally scheduled to face Paulo Costa, but the Brazilian withdrew because of a staph infection on his elbow. Chimaev likes that he’s now facing Usman – someone who’s been on his radar for a while now.