Kamaru Usman loses to Chimaev at UFC 294

Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is one of the great fighters in the UFC, not just of the current time but of all time. But on Saturday, he could muster very little against Khamzat Chimaev, whose grappling, striking,

and striking defense were all on point in their middleweight bout in the co-main event of UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Chimaev won a majority decision over Usman, the former welterweight champion, by scores of 29-27 twice and 28-28.

Chimaev scored a 10-8 in the first, taking Usman down early in the round and controlling him nearly the rest of the way. He got Usman’s back and threatened for submissions, and though he never got the choke cinched in, he prevented Usman from mounting an offense of his own.

Usman won the second round by throwing strikes, but he never really got a lot of momentum going. Chimaev, who had been known in his past UFC fights to storm out of his corner and fight at a breakneck pace, was far more controlled and patient this time.

In the second, it’s almost like he took his foot off the gas and allowed Usman, who took the bout on 11 days’ notice, to get back into the fight.

Chimaev’s wrestling carried the day in the third and he held Usman down for most of the second half of the final round.

After pleading for peace in the world and talking about how much it hurt him to see children dying, Chimaev turned his attention to Usman and Usman’s coaches, Trevor Wittman and Henry Hooft, praising them for their skill and Usman for his willingness to accept the fight when Paulo Costa fell out.

The UFC called Usman and he was willing to take the fight on short notice. This will be Usman’s first fight at 185 inside the octagon.