Kamaru Usman has made an interesting observation about Khamzat Chimaev but the MMA fandom isn’t entirely onboard! Chimaev is set to face former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker on June 22 in the UFC’s first foray into Saudi Arabia and the bout will determine the number one contender for the 185 lbs title currently held by Dricus Du Plessis.

Usman faced Chimaev at UFC 294 in 2023 after ‘Borz’s original opponent, Paulo Costa, had to withdraw from the fight due to complications with an infection in his arm that required surgery. As such, Usman stepped up on short notice and took on Chimaev in a 3-round fight that ‘Borz’ won via unanimous decision. However, many experts and fans felt that Chimaev visibly slowed down in the later rounds and claimed if the fight had gone longer, Usman would have had a better chance at victory.

But in a recent episode of the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast, Usman stated, “You know I would have liked to see that go longer, but I just think because of my fight people are kinda downplaying his skills whether he’s good or not, everyone’s saying he’s not that good but I was a champion, you know, so I kinda think he’s getting the short end of the stick here because everyone’s going he’s not that good anymore.”

The former welterweight champion also claimed that Chimaev is a “problem to deal with inside the Octagon” for anyone and in the first round of their fight, Usman was having trouble dealing with ‘Borz’s pressure and wrestling. The remarks have drawn a range of opinions from the fans on social media who took to the comments section to make their thoughts known. Here’s a look at what the fandom had to say.

Fans left divided on Khamzat Chimaev as Kamaru Usman proclaims “people are kinda downplaying his skills“

 Fans bluntly pointed out that the experts and other sections of the MMA community are “clueless” when it comes to making an accurate assessment of Khamzat Chimaev’s skills

“Anyone thinking khamzat isn’t that good is either full of sh*t or clueless”

Some claimed that “nobody” has the ability to beat Chimaev in a 3-round fight although it’s important to note that ‘Borz’ did have significant trouble with Usman and Gilbert Burns in the later rounds despite eventually winning the judge’s decision both times

“Nobody can beat khamzat in 3 round fight”

Fans also pointed out that having Usman’s name on his record indicates that Chimaev is a world-class talent in MMA

“How is he not that good he beat a WORLD champion in kamaru Usman. Lmfao”

But some fans seem to think that elite middleweights in the UFC like Dricus Du Plessis, Israel Adesanya, or Jared Cannonier might prove too much for Chimaev to handle

“Nah Khamzat ain’t hanging with the top 185ers.”

One fan even claimed that Usman’s statements will now allow “casual” fans to stop downplaying Chimaev’s potential to be a dominant force in the UFC

“Im thankfull he says him self now all casuals got that”

 Fans also blasted the notion that Chimaev is not an elite competitor as they pointed out that his taking down Usman repeatedly when he was almost impossible to take down during his title reign highlights the rare talent ‘Borz’ possesses

“anyone downplaying Khamzat is re***ded, the guy that had only officially been taken down once in his entire career by Leon in Usman, Khamzat took him down 4 times and 10-8’d him and threatened a submission”

Meanwhile, other fans claimed that Chimaev’s detractors are only able to make their criticisms online and anonymously.

“A lot of people” . None of which would say any of that shit to his face that they say online”

In conclusion, despite some criticism of Chimaev’s performances, Usman has defended Chimaev’s skills and potential, noting his own struggles against him in their bout. This has led to a range of opinions among fans, with many supporting Usman’s view and highlighting Chimaev’s victories over top-tier fighters as evidence of his elite status. However, some remain skeptical about Chimaev’s ability to compete with the very best in the middleweight division.

Whether Chimaev can silence his critics and prove his dominance when he takes on Robert Whittaker remains to be seen. But what do you think about Khamzat Chimaev’s potential as an elite UFC middleweight? Share it with us in the comments below!