Every now and again a fighter comes along and sets the MMA World on fire. Right now, Khamzat Chimaev is that fighter.
The fanfare behind the UFC’s hottest athlete is immense, and well deserved after entering the UFC with a highly impressive four fight win streak. All of those wins came by stoppage, and all contests showcased Chimaev’s knack for winning violently.
But anyone who has followed this sport long enough knows how the story goes. You can be one of the biggest names in the sport one day, and out of the picture, title or otherwise, altogether the next.
In MMA, you’re only as good as your last fight, and the last fight is all fans remember.
So as impressive as Khamzat Chimaev has been, and as much as fans want to see him continue to “smesh” opponents, it’s a good idea to recognize that the fight he is heading into at UFC 273 is unlike any fight he has had before. Gilbert Burns is a caliber of fighter that Chimaev has yet to face, and the possibility of all of that hype being dissipated come Sunday morning is a lot higher than most seem to realize.
Chimaev doesn’t even need to lose for it to happen, either. All it could take is a less than impressive performance, a lackluster showing, and he goes from the hottest thing in the sport, to just another one of the top tier talents in the division.
For more of our thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, be sure to check out the video preview above!
