Undefeated UFC welterweight rising star Khamzat Chimaev blasted his means into 170-pound title rivalry together with his epic “Fight of the Night” reverse Gilbert Burns on the UFC 273 pay-per-view (PPV) occasion earlier this month in Jacksonville.
The victory elevated Chimaev to the No. 2 spot in the welterweight rankings and “Borz” may very well be subsequent in line for a crack on the 170-pound crown if he’s capable of get previous fellow wrestler and two-time title challenger Colby Covington.
UFC analyst Chael Sonnen will not be getting his hopes up.
“I don’t suppose they’ve that match. I don’t suppose they’ve ever had that match. I don’t even suppose they’ve spoken to Colby in regards to the match,” Sonnen mentioned on his YouTube channel (transcribed by MMA News). “Dana simply mentioned, ‘That is the course we’re going.’ It was meant to be a praise to Colby. Dana was attempting to say, ‘Covington, who’s a star, I’m going to take my star and I’m gonna put him in the primary occasion. Whoever wins between Burns and Chimaev goes to feed into that major occasion.’ It was meant to be one thing very candy for Colby.”
“I used to be simply predicting, very like Belal (Muhammad), that’s not how Colby’s listening to it,” Sonnen continued. “That’s not how Colby needs to get this performed. I additionally wasn’t bought on the concept that the group was keen to make {that a} primary contender’s match. My intestine feeling is that the group would lean in direction of the concept that if Chimaev wins, Chimaev would combat for the championship. Realizing Colby the way in which I do, that’s going to insult him, and it’s simply not going to work. I by no means talked to Colby, that is me talking.”
Covington (17-3) is unlikely to simply accept such a excessive stakes combat if he’s not assured a 3rd shot on the 170-pound strap, notably if Chimaev (11-0) is promised a title bout with a victory over “Chaos.” That’s why No. 5-ranked Belal Muhammad (21-2, 1 NC), recent off his resolution win over Vicente Luque on ESPN, used his post-fight interview to shoot his shot.
“In his final moments on the worldwide chief, with the most important viewers he’s going to have, that he needs to affect, [Muhammad] inserts himself in a combat that’s already performed. That’s what we have been led to consider,” Sonnen mentioned. “Now, swiftly, Belal got here out… He simply got here out and mentioned, ‘I feel I’m going to be preventing Chimaev subsequent. I don’t suppose Colby goes to do this match.’ I feel he’s proper. I feel Belal goes to get that combat. And now, swiftly, it does change into a primary contender’s match for each guys. As a lot as you wish to see Chimaev vs. Colby… If it turns into Chimaev vs. Muhammad, meaning it’s gonna change into Colby vs. Burns. You bought any drawback with these matchups?”
Chimaev may … he doesn’t have time for “Bullshit Boys.”
