Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev will throw down later this month at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. The fight looks entertaining, as both athletes are fun to watch whenever they step foot inside the UFC octagon. It will be a big fight in terms of the middleweight title picture. Due to the magnitude of the battle, the UFC likely have a backup fighter in mind if something goes wrong. Chael Sonnen explains why former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman would be the perfect backup for the contest.
Paulo Costa Vs Kamzat Chimaev
Chimaev has taken the UFC by storm ever since he made his debut. He is known for his aggressive style and ability to finish his opponents. His wrestling ability separates him from his fellow competitors as it is so dominating. Chimaev has had a lot of hype around him for years, and it is safe to say that he has lived with all the hype. He is coming off a win against Kevin Holland, where he got the first-round finish. He has a perfect professional record and finished all his fights apart from his mesmerising clash with Gilbert Burns.
Paulo Costa is a fantastic fighter in his own right. He is known for his forward-pressuring style and powerful striking. The Brazilian fighter is coming off a win against Luke Rockhold, where he got his hand raised in a tremendous performance. He will look to get back into the title picture with a massive win over Chimaev.
Chael Sonnen On Usman
Usman is coming off a devastating loss to Leon Edwards. As a result, many people wonder what is next for the “Nigerian Nightmare”. Sonnen believed he would be the perfect backup for the co-main event at UFC 294 and explained why on his YouTube channel.
“What do you do with Kamaru Usman?” Sonnen asked. “If Usman or anybody was to sit for a year, we no longer need to discuss what they’ll do. We can still want to see them fight… (but) if you sit for a year, your time is now done… Nobody is good enough in a competitive division to sit for a year and come back and be meaningful… (Usman) has two months (for a fight to be announced).
“I believe that Kamaru Usman should go to 185 pounds. That’s Chael’s belief,” Sonnen continued. “He didn’t want to have to fight Adesanya… Usman was willing to fight Chimaev but would not fight him at 185 pounds… It was not a size issue, and he didn’t want to do it at 185 because it would have become a number-one contender’s match… The move now that Izzy is not the champion… If Usman were to come up now, the landscape would be different. And the opportunity is only a month away. It is paramount that they have a backup fighter in Abu Dhabi for Paulo Costa vs. Chimaev… The right guy has to be ready, the right guy is out there, the right guy to fill in for Paulo Costa or Khamzat Chimaev… Kamaru Usman.”
All quotes via MMA News
It seems like the idea to have a backup fighter for Costa versus Chimaev. However, it is likely not going to be Usman.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
