The Pro Take: Twitter Reacts to Chimaev-Burns Classic at UFC 273

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Khamzat Chimaev
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 24: Khamzat Chimaev of Czechia poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 24, 2020 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

There were a lot of expectations to live up to in Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.

Somehow, the welterweight duo even managed to surpass them.

Through a full three rounds, in a back-and-forth war immediately in the conversation for Fight of the Year, Chimaev and Burns battled it out. It’s worth underscoring that in just his fifth UFC fight, All-Stars Training Center fighter Chimaev was fighting the #2 ranked welterweight in the promotion. What’s more impressive, he immediately looked like he belonged.

That said, it was no cakewalk. There was no “smeshing” on Saturday at UFC 273. Burns proved game, and hurt Chimaev more than once. Right hands snapped his head back. Burns managed to hurt and bloody him more than once. But through 15 minutes we learned a lot about Khamzat Chimaev, including the fact that he has one impressively granite-like chin.

Arguably, the first round belonged to Chimaev, the second to Burns. In the third, the fight was up for grabs. Chimaev dictated where the bout was fought — he did that through most of the fight, stuffing takedown attempts with seeming ease — and began lighting up the former title challenger. It looked like Burns was on his way out, but he battled back, tagging Chimaev several times.

It wasn’t enough. All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Khamzat Chimaev at the end of 15 minutes, though having said that, there were really no losers in the fight. Both men’s stock will rise, and both should be booked into big fights next.

The Pro Take

Khamzat’s fellow fighters certainly came out in droves to watch the fight, and there were plenty of Gilbert Burns supporters among them. Check out how the pros saw this barn-burner below!

 

Team Durinho

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