ABU DHABI – Paulo Costa is not impressed with Khamzat Chimaev’s performance at UFC 294, and thinks his fight with Kamaru Usman was either a loss or a draw.
Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was supposed to fight Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in Saturday’s co-headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island before a severe case of staph infection in his elbow forced him out of the bout, setting the stage for former welterweight champion Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) to step in on just 12 days’ notice in the middleweight contest.
Chimaev earned a majority decision victory to extend his unbeaten record, with one judge scoring the fight a 28-28 draw and the others 29-28 for Chimaev. Costa was cageside for the bout, and he thought Chimaev’s performance was average at best.
