Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman goes up in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday, October 21 at Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi. The pair squares off in a brand new co-main occasion at UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2. The bout is scheduled for 3 rounds at middleweight.
Chimaev was initially set to face former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. The latter has not too long ago undergone elbow surgical procedure, and, reportedly, wouldn’t be cleared to compete by the docs.
UFC 294 is headlined by a rematch between reigning light-weight champion Islam Makhachev and present featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The combat was additionally booked on a brief discover, after Charles Oliveira pulled out resulting from coaching damage.
The occasion airs dwell on ESPN+ PPV in america.
Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev
Usman (20-3), who took the combat on a brief discover, is seeking to return to successful methods after struggling a pair of defeats in opposition to Leon Edwards. The 36-year-old final fought in March in London, the place he dropped a majority determination in his try and regain the title. Of their first combat in August 2022 in Salt Lake Metropolis, Edwards got here out on prime through fifth-round head kick KO and claimed the 170-pound belt.
Undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (12-0) makes his Octagon return after over a yr of absence. In his earlier outing in September 2022 in Las Vegas, the 29-year-old submitted Kevin Holland within the first spherical.
“ what we’ve been dealing this week,” Dana White mentioned. “We’ve simply received the massive combat carried out yesterday – the extremely anticipated rematch in Abu Dhabi – the primary occasion [Islam] Makhachev verus [Alexander] Volkanovski. Now you’ve been ready for the co-main occasion, [Paulo] Costa’s damage, you already know, all of the rumors which might be flying round… We received it carried out.”
“So, the No. 4 welterweight on the earth Khamzat Chimaev is transferring as much as middleweight, and he’ll face the No. 1 welterweight on the earth Kamaru Usman. So, No. 1 versus No. 4 [welterweights] at middleweight. Usman versus Chimaev. I’ll see you in Abu Dhabi.”
In Australia, UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2 airs on Sunday, October 22 dwell on Kayo.