“Covington, that’s the ultimate test” – Kamaru Usman outlines Khamzat Chimaev’s path to legitimate title contendership
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Khamzat Chimaev (L), Kamaru Usman (C) and Colby Covington (R)
Khamzat Chimaev is on the rise, as he has been for the last two years. He was first properly noticed by the MMA world when he beat two fighters in the UFC, within a space of 15 days.
Since, however, it’s only been a steep upward climb for the Swedish fighter, who trains at the AllStar Gym in Stockholm. If his juggernaut-Esque fighting style wasn’t enough, his presence on visual and social media has also helped elevate him as close to the Welterweight title, as can be.
In early 2022, he and Darren Till struck up an unlikely friendship – the context being the latter traveling to Sweden to train with Chimaev to enthuse energy back into his UFC career, after suffering successive losses. Darren Till has vowed to fight twice before 2022.
In May, Chimaev fought and beat convincingly, but not in a dominating fashion, perennial top 5 Welterweight Gilbert “Durinho” Burns. The fight propelled him directly into title talks, but with the Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman title match impending, he agreed to take on Nate Diaz, in the meanwhile.
“I’m low-key a fan” – Kamaru Usman Usman heaps massive praise on Colby Covington
According to the ex-champ of the Welterweight division, Khamzat Chimaev’s true mettle will be tested not against a Burns or a Diaz, but Colby Covington. Speaking to Joe Rogan on the JRE podcast, Usman outlined that to actually cement a title shot Khamzat must face the former ATT fighter, saying “Khamzat vs Covington…that’s the ultimate test. With no disrespect, it’s Covington…you gotta get past Covington.”
According to Dana White, Colby Covington could have been the Welterweight champion, had Kamaru Usman not existed. Usman likewise acknowledges the greatness of his fiercest rival, saying that “He does everything well…he’s got so much endurance…Woodley and Lawler, look at the pace he put on them.”
This comes as a shocker to no one – fans are divided about Covington’s attitude, but they still pay homage to his brilliant fighting ability. Apart from losing to Kamaru Usman, Covington has beat everyone he has faced in the last 5 years, with his fight against Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal not even looking like a close affair. At the end of the night, Colby Covington had not only bested his closest friend turned foe on the ground but also outstruck him (which is widely believed to be the greatest asset of Masvidal).
Kamaru Usman has had a great time with the media after his shocking loss to Leon Edwards two weekends back, appearing on multiple sports broadcasts and Joe Rogan’s Podcast. To say that Colby Covington has been harsh in his trash-talk towards Kamaru Usman is putting it lightly. The Dade County resident has attacked Usman on just about everything, from his father’s personal life to Usman’s alleged “PED” usage.
But, as we have come to know this week – Usman knows when to give props. He has lauded Leon Edwards’ achievement in just about every appearance he has had, and now, in the podcast uploaded to Joe Rogan’s Spotify, he said that “I’m low-key a fan…for you to talk that much sh**, get your face broken too, and still talk more shit after…it takes a different person.”
This comment highlights Colby’s famous switch to becoming a brash heel, from a reserved and sweet-talking guy, when he was notified of being axed from the UFC roster, citing his “boring” style. Joe Rogan approved Covington’s “shtick” working out for him, but also added that he had hung out with the fighter and found him to be a “sweet guy.”
Colby Covington is not booked for a fight just yet, dealing with injuries and a legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal. Meanwhile, Khamzat Chimaev faces Nate Diaz next weekend, at UFC 279. Do you think the two fighters will cross each other before the Swede gets the UFC’s nod for a title shot? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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