Khamzat Chimaev made a major splash in his return to the middleweight division on Saturday when he bested former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the UFC 294 co-main event.
Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) remained undefeated and added a signature win to his resume with a majority decision over short-notice replacement opponent Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the 185-pound title eliminator, which took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Chimaev’s victory over Usman at UFC 294.
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UFC
Here. We. GO!!@Usman84kg vs @KChimaev is finally here!!
[ Order the #UFC294 ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/AiLj4i6pg6 ] pic.twitter.com/NnBUmRc6YT
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
UFC
Wasting NO time getting into the Octagon!@KChimaev couldn't be more ready for his return to action at #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/KtdXVuF1Q9
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
UFC
New weight class, same goal!@Usman84kg looking to establish himself as a middleweight title contender in our #UFC294 co-main! pic.twitter.com/cqZoJjnseU
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
UFC
Security has to hold Usman and Chimaev back before the fight starts! 🔥 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/SYhwkRRSfm
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
Luke Thomas
A much more methodical Chimaev relative to the Burns fight thus far.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) October 21, 2023
Kevin Iole
Big elbow by Khamzat
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 21, 2023
Conor McGregor
Interesting fight this one, I am most looking forward too. Usman made a good chess move here with a win over the current 185lb champ on record. A real legacy play. Chimaev is damn good but questions are still there. Anything can happen. Good, solid, interesting fight. Bravo, @ufc
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 21, 2023
Caposa
Great defense from Usman
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 21, 2023
John Morgan
Usman showing that champion pedigree, not panicking in these terrible spots, but that was an incredibly dominant opening round from Chimaev. Does he keep it going in round 2? #UFC294
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) October 21, 2023
Matthew Wells
Khamzat Chimaev is different, man. He completely dominated Usman on the ground in Round 1. #UFC294
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) October 21, 2023
Gilbert Burns
Wow that’s a 10-8 round! 👀 #ufc294
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 21, 2023
Teddy Atlas
Usman’s gas tank already had to be less than full taking on short notice, how much can be left after that. #UFC294
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) October 21, 2023
Jose Youngs
"What are you Dillon Danis?" – Random fan unhappy with the lack of action #UFC294
— José Youngs (@JoseYoungs) October 21, 2023
Clay Guida
We are watching two of the best MMA wrestlers in the world! #UFC294
— Clay Guida (@clayguida) October 21, 2023
Chris Clements
I’d like to see Usman test Chimaev takedown defence. Instead of defending against Chimaev. Try being offensive. #UFC294
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) October 21, 2023
Jimi Manuwa
Hardly any shots thrown in rd 2 coz they’re both recovering #UFC294
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) October 21, 2023
Kevin Iole
Chimaev with a takedown 30 second sleft
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 21, 2023
Fight Ghost
Pretty terrible round 2 from Chimaev. Have to question the gas tank and IQ. #UFC294
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) October 21, 2023
Josh Thomson
1-1
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) October 21, 2023
UFC
Final 5 minutes on the way!
Go inside the Usman corner before Round 3 🔊 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/HUU2l0k2pb
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
Kay Hansen
Usman needs a finish going into the 3rd #ufc294
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) October 21, 2023
Dillon Danis
Saidyokub Kakhramonov
Usman looking good #ufc
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) October 21, 2023
Brian Campbell
Chimaev showing curious cardio here in R3. #UFC294
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) October 21, 2023
Jasmine Jasudavicius
This needed to be five rounds! What an amazing fight 🤯 #UFC294
— Jasmine Jasudavicius (@JasJasudavicius) October 21, 2023
John Morgan
Wow! Second and third effort on that takedown from Chimaev was everything. Usman didn't quite clear himself, and that changed everything in the final round!!! What a big moment. #UFC294
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) October 21, 2023
Mike Perry
The wrestling of @KChimaev is too good
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) October 21, 2023
Paulo Costa
Gourmet Chen Chen is so greenhorn. I would destroy this cupcake 🧁
Easy money for sure 🤣🧃
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 21, 2023
Teddy Atlas
Shocked that Chimaev didn’t attack in 2nd more after Usman burned a lot of gas, interesting now. #UFC294
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) October 21, 2023
Derek Brunson
Usman came and fought his a** off on short notice . NO matter the results ! #UFC294
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 21, 2023
Nolan King
This is the question that everyone needs to ask themselves. It's interesting #UFC294 https://t.co/InqGn2cqw0
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) October 21, 2023
Matthew Wells
Not impressed
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) October 21, 2023
Dillon Danis
Khamzat Chimaev you absolutely suck.
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) October 21, 2023
Sodiq Yusuff
I'm so used to usman doing 5 rounds I was confused like why they hugging
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) October 21, 2023
ESPN MMA
Usman and Chimev were swinging till the final bell 👊 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/Or356NeESz
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
#UFC294 results: Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) def. Kamaru Usman via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
Full coverage: https://t.co/V3zimpWFI4 pic.twitter.com/0lwnCsGrEl
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
Tatiana Suarez
The scorecards were all over. #UFC294
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) October 21, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili
Wow @KChimaev real Goat 🐐 congratulations #UFC294 🦾
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) October 21, 2023
Julian Marquez
@USMAN84kg is the real winner in my mind.
A performance like that on a short notice. Bravo 👏🏽 and thank you! #UFC294— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
Khamzat Chimaev exits the octagon after beating Kamaru Usman at #UFC294 to earn a title shot.
Are you picking him to dethrone Sean Strickland?
Full results: https://t.co/V3zimpW7Sw pic.twitter.com/FOLjK99TH7
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
Conor McGregor
Not a tremendous fight. It could have became one over 5 rounds, however. The lack of urgency post sprawling that takedown at the start of round 3 was disappointing and not indicative of what’s on the table with a W. Happy to let opponent back up and re center and tip tap away.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 21, 2023
Justin Gaethje
Two 10-8’s get these fucken guys out of here. When does AI start judging fights? These humans are incompetent.
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
Kamaru Usman heads backstage after suffering his third straight loss at #UFC294: What's next?
Full results: https://t.co/V3zimpW7Sw pic.twitter.com/zJPCLadf3s
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
Arnold Allen
Great performance from Khamzat and fair play to Usman for stepping in and putting in a good effort 👏🏼 #ufc294
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) October 21, 2023
UFC
Respect. 🤍 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/TficPZdiIa
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 21, 2023
