After targeting a welterweight comeback to try and work his way back to the title, former 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman found a huge opportunity cross his path.
With Paulo Costa pulling out of the co-main event of UFC 294, the promotion was tasked with finding a replacement opponent for Khamzat Chimaev on less than two weeks notice.
Making his middleweight debut in a title eliminator, Usman vs. Chimaev is arguably an even better match-up than the one we were supposed to get.
Usman’s addition adds a whole new level of intrigue with how he will look up at middleweight, how his grappling will match-up with Chimaev’s and whether he will be able to shake up the entire 185-pound division with just one fight.
Ahead of the fight, Usman’s teammate spoke about the two advantages that “The Nigerian Nightmare” brings into this fight.
Gilbert Burns Says No Weight Cut And Fighting Over Three Rounds Gives Usman An Advantage On Short Notice
Despite their highly-tense welterweight title fight at UFC 258, Usman and Gilbert Burns are still close teammates and training partners.
When Costa pulled out of the fight with Chimaev, it was Burns that shared a video of Usman working in the gym, hinting that he had some big news.
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