Khamzat Chimaev will face Paulo Costa in a middleweight bout at UFC 294. It will be the Chechen’s much-awaited return after over a year out of the ring. And it is a battle that has the fans excited because of the bad blood between the two.

Chimaev has promised to beat the Brazilian and promised to make Costa cry in the octagon. He has also said that Costa is a “dead man”, along with DMing ‘Borrachina’s girlfriend and making fun of him getting humped by Israel Adesanya following his loss to the Kiwi. And the bout has not just excited fans but also fellow UFC fighters. And UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has come out with his predictions for the UFC 294 co-main event.

It’s going to come down to cardio: Belal Muhammad on Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa

In a conversation with MMA Junkie, Muhammad said that he had been watching videos of both Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev. He stated that both the fighters were tough and would not break mentally. He further indulged his belief that given the bad blood between them, the two would be fighting on emotion, and commended Costa’s striking prowess. He felt that the fight would be a test of both men’s cardio and endurance.

“I’m excited for that. I was literally just watching tape on both of those guys yesterday just to watch it and I think it’s going to come down to cardio… Neither one of them guys will break mentally in the cage. But I think it’ll come down to, for sure, cardio. Because I think they’re both gonna fight with emotion. They’re they’re both gonna be fighting with anger, and Costa is really good at attacking the body with kicks, punches,” the Palestinian told MMA Junkie.

Muhammad predicts ‘Borz’ will take Costa to the ground

He added that based on his analysis, Khamzat Chimaev would be able to take the Brazilian to the ground. He stated that the Emirati would be able to finish the 32-year-old and that it would come down to Costa’s ability to get up and not give Chimaev any opportunities to submit him.

Also Read: Paulo Costa’s Girlfriend Exposes Khamzat Chimaev’s Inappropriate ‘DM Pics’, UFC Star to Take Action: “Trying to Affect You Trough a Women”

“But I do think after rewatching tape on [them] I do think Khamzat will be able to take him down because I’ve seen a couple guys get their hands locked on Costa, get body locks on him. And even guys like Rockhold shot in deep on him, but he just didn’t have the energy to finish him. I think Khamzat will be able to finish it, so it’s about Costa’s get up ability and being safe on the ground without giving up his neck for chokes or anything like that,” he said.

What are your predictions for UFC 294? Who do you think will win in the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa fight? Let us know in the comments section below.

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