Khamzat Chimaev says he’s no ‘Khabib No. 2’; predicts finishes of Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya
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By Simon Head and John Morgan | September 20, 2020 6:00 am
LAS VEGAS – Khamzat Chimaev said he’s happy to show the world that he’s the total package.
Chimaev (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) produced the fastest finish of the night as he stunned Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds at UFC on ESPN+ 36, then stated that he has the skills to finish people via every method available.
Here are the highlights from the post-fight press conference as Chimaev chatted to reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage at the UFC Apex following his win.
Chimaev on not being ‘Khabib No. 2’
Chimaev’s previous two UFC wins against John Phillips and Rhys McKee were both earned on the mat – one by submission, one by ground and pound TKO – as he showed the sort of dominant top game that drew comparisons with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
But Chimaev said his thumping knockout of Meerschaert (31-14 MMA, 6-6 UFC) showed that he has much more to his game than just grappling and mat skills.
“Everybody says, ‘You’re Khabib. Khabib No. 2,’ something like that. But I am Khamzat,” he said. “I can knock out people, submit the people, smash the people, everything. I have everything.”
Chimaev on pre-fight trash talk: ‘It’s nothing personal’
Chimaev and Meerschaert exchanged some heated words in the lead-up to the fight, but the Chechen-born fighter said that he didn’t take anything personally. However, he did suggest that his opponent wasn’t happy to be in the cage with him once the action began.
“I’m always angry to smash somebody and knock him out like I did now, but it’s nothing personal, it’s sport,” he said. “You have to talk, you have to take him as he was. When I looked at his eyes … in the cage when I looked at him, he didn’t want to be there. I said that directly.”
Chimaev on testing himself against Demian Maia
The matchup was prefaced by the story that the UFC had already laid the groundwork for Chimaev to face former middleweight title challenger Demian Maia in his next bout, and Chimaev admitted he’d enjoy the prospect of testing his skills against the legendary MMA grappler.
“Yeah, why not? He’s the best ‘jitser’ in MMA. If I stop him, choke him out, I’m the best ‘jitser’ in MMA!” he said. “We will see. … I am ready for everybody. Like I said to Dana, if you give me Demian Maia, I am ready for him. If you give me Brock Lesnar, I am ready for him, also.”
Chimaev on potential title fights with Usman, Adesanya
Ultimately, though, Chimaev has his sights set on UFC titles – note the plural – and, despite only having three UFC fights to his name, “The Wolf” says he’s ready to hunt down the champions at both welterweight and middleweight.
“Of course! Why not?” he asked. “I did hard work for that. I’m ready. Both divisions.”
Then, when asked whether welterweight champion Kamaru Usman or middleweight champ Israel Adesanya would pose the toughest test of his career, Chimaev gave the sort of answer that will likely make both men sit up and take notice.
“If I do my hard work, nobody’s a challenge for me,” he stated, with a smile. “I’m going to stop both guys.”
Video: Relive Chimaev’s one-hitter quitter In pictures: UFC on ESPN+ 26 Gallery UFC on ESPN+ 36: Best photos from Las Vegas In pictures: Khamzat Chimaev Gallery Photos: Khamzat Chimaev through the years Report: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gerald Meerschaert