Khamzat Chimaev's coach provides expected timeline and potential opponents for his return
Khamzat Chimaev's most recent bout was a unanimous decision win in a thrilling slugfest against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on April 9. Given Chimaev's popularity and his gritty victory over Burns, many have been clamoring for 'The Chechen Wolf' aka 'Borz' to return at the earliest.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Chimaev's coach Andreas Michael has now put forth a potential timeline for 'Borz's' next fight. The world-renowned MMA coach from Sweden's Allstars Training Center also revealed the names of the opponents who Chimaev is likely to face in his upcoming fights.
AS GOOD AS IT GETS. š
@GilbertDurinho extends @KChimaev for the first time EVER. WHAT A FIGHT. #UFC273 https://t.co/E2EUYDoi9b
Alluding to Chimaevās grueling fight against Burns, Michael suggested that he wants āBorzā to take adequate time off professional MMA competition rather than rush back into the octagon. Noting that Chimaev could return in September or October, Michael stated:
āThis is where I have to use my experience now and hold him back because fights like that take a little bit of time for the body to recover. So, I would like him to fight like, maybe in September, October; somewhere there.ā Michael smiled and added, āIf he listens to me!ā
Reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is expected to defend his title against the No.2-ranked UFC welterweight Leon Edwards next. Michael opined that heād like to see the No.3-ranked Chimaev fight the No.1-ranked UFC welterweight Colby Covington next.
He added that if Chimaev beats Covington, heād then like to see him face the winner of the Usman-Edwards matchup for the belt. Michael said:
āI hope that we get Colby [Covington]. And then once weāve ā with Godās help, we win that fight ā then we get the winner of [Kamaru] Usman versus Leon [Edwards]. Yes.ā
Watch Andreas Michaelās conversation with Ariel Helwani in the video below:
John McCarthy feels Khamzat Chimaev would be the underdog in a potential fight with Kamaru Usman
Former MMA referee John McCarthy has time and again lauded Khamzat Chimaev's fighting skills. However, McCarthy recently asserted that āBorzā wonāt be able to walk through Usman like heās done against past opponents. He notably insinuated that Usman can match Chimaevās otherworldly wrestling skills.
In a recent edition of the Weighing In podcast, John McCarthy opined that Khamzat Chimaev would be the underdog against Kamaru Usman. McCarthy explained:
"So, he [Chimaev] has got to put it in his mind, 'Hey I fight smart, I don't fight to just destroy people. If I can, great. But I have got to fight smart because I just can't destroy everyone.' And you are not going to just destroy someone like Kamaru Usman. In fact, you're gonna be that underdog in that fight."