Anyone who says Usman is "washed" should go find another sport to follow.
They did it with Usman in RDA. Now he's paying it back
What makes you think Khamzat is more technical than Usman in boxing?
ALPHANESS36. Messed up knees. Never fought at 185. Taking a short notice fight against a guy who is a natural Middleweight who has been bulking.
He's a lock. Definitely. Why?
Italicized letters and colorful words!
I get it, this has been going on for ages, you see it in boxing all the time. I just feel Pink Goof gets off on watching Usman get brutalized, and all things being equal, I always side with the fighters. I can't stand Pink Goof.
If Dana hated Usman he wouldn't offer to pay him 7 figures to accept a short notice fight. That's like winning the lottery. Except for the part where Usman gets the crap beat out of him.
The money offer was to elevate Khamzat’s stature, not to reward Usman, despite it being good money. Should Usman lose, Dana would only offer crap money to Usman and use age and the recent loss as justification for doing so, should Usman request more fights, IMO.
You must not be aware that Ali is Usmans manager
Regardless, it’s well known Pink Goof despises Usman and at this late stage, they needed a legit name to trump up Khamzat, Ali is being Ali, ensuring his stable gets paid. If anything, it explains why Dana was forced to pay Usman well.
It's the style and personality.
Khamzat is either going to score a sensational, early knockout — or he is going to fail to do so, and ultimately lose, based on experience and character.
Not a big fan of Usman, but he's got character, heart, and staying power.
I don't think Khamzat has any of these things, especially in the trenches.
MMA Math works more often than not ... but nothing is infallible.
That said, I trust consistency and character ... and the ONLY guy who's beaten Usman (Edwards) has the identical consistency and character as himself. Edwards has been a sustained winner, for years, in the UFC.
As such, I would pick both Edwards, and Usman, to beat the young (inconsistent, no-character) Chimaev, quite frankly.
I will never trust Khamzat Chimaev.
I don't think he has the staying power of either Edwards or Usman, the consistent work ethic.
My belief is Chimaev will go the way of Conor McGregor — a talented "flash in the pan" without the self-control, or discipline, to be a sustained Champion.