Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev UFC 294 Live Blog & Updates
Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev are set to fight in co-main event of UFC 294 PPV event in a middleweight bout which is essentially a title eliminator bout.
Usman comes into the bout with 10 days notice and he is making his middleweight debut with this bout. He has lost two back-to-back title bouts against Leon Edwards before this bout. Will he be able to bounce back as he moves up a division? This will be his first 3 round bout since 2018. How will it affect his gameplan?
Chimaev enters the octagon 13 months after a horrendous weigh miss at UFC 279 and a catchweight bout against Kevin Holland where he got an easy win. Chimaev will look to get his unbeaten streak going in his 13th fight. But, will it be so straightforward against a great grappler in Usman?
Usman and Chimaev settle it TOMORROW 😤@Usman84kg vs @KChimaev in our #UFC294 co-main!!
— UFC (@ufc) October 20, 2023
[ Tomorrow at 2pmET / 11amPT on ESPN+ PPV | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/3kpnbcm9ID
Tune in below to find out as we post live updates from Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev middleweight bout from UFC 294 event with round-by-round and play-by-play updates.
Live Updates
Khamzat comes out first and runs all the way through just like Magomed Ankalaev did for the previous fight. Usman looks calm as he comes out. Bruce Buffer introduces the fighters for the co-main event. Jason Herzog is the referee.
Round 1: Khamzat goes for calf kicks. He goes for a single leg takedown. Usman makes him work but Khamzat gets the takedown. Khamzat gets to his back to get full control and lands some shots to his head. Usman readjusts the position but Khamzat is still on his back. Khamzat keeps working punches before getting control of the right wrist. Khamzat is falling a bit ahead. He keeps working hte punches. Usman gets to his feet with Khamzat still on his back. Khamzat goes for a choke but Usman falls down to slam Khamzat’s head into the mat. Khamzat is still on his back though and keeps working with the shots. Usman gets away from the corner with a few seconds to go into the round. Khamzat keeps hitting his shots.
Round 2: Slow start to this round. Usman hits a calf kick almost 40 seconds into the round. Usman fakes a takedown and lands a punch. Khamzat throws a jab. Usman hits a calf kick. Khamzat lands a high kick on the body. Some low kicks traded during the next minute. Usman fakes another takedown. No big shots landed until Khamzat attempts a high kick with 90 seconds to go. Usman hits a jab and a calf kick. Khamzat goes for another takedown with 45 seconds to go. Usman has got him in a chest wrap to counter it. Khamzat pops his head out after a while.
Round 3: Khamzat goes for a takedown again but Usman gets out of the way. They are back to the middle of the cage. Both fake shots and nothing lands for the first minute. Usman lands a big right. He follows up with a big right. More stiff shots follow after Usman slips from a high kick. Usman lands combination shots to batter Khamzat. He goes for a takedown but has to pull out. Khamzat goes for a takedown and gets it after continuing his pursuit through half of the cage. Khamzat has Usman on his back on the mat and is controlling the action. He is far from a submission though and can’t land many clean shots. Usman gets free with 30 seconds to go. They make it a dog fight in the final seconds of the fight. They shake hands after the bell.
Official Decision: Khamzat Chimaev won via majority decision(29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
