Khamzat Chimaev And Gilbert Burns Just Put On A WAR For The Ages
WOWWWWW! WHAT A WAR! FIGHT OF THE YEAR!! NOT EVEN CLOSE!!
I think like many, I expected Khamzat Chimaev to run through Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 tonight. Obviously, Burns is a much better opponent than anyone Chimaev had faced prior, but when you look like a world beater at 10-0, I'm gonna buy into the hype.
"Durinho" did NOT look like a +375 underdog in the cage tonight, however - he just looked like a DAWG in each and every striking exchange he got into with Chimaev. From getting dropped and split open badly in the first, to coming back and winning the second, and then swinging with EVERYTHING in him throughout the third, Burns put on one of the gutsiest performances I've ever seen in the cage tonight....and although he didn't get the job done and walk away with a win, bringing Khamzat to a decision in the manner that he did HAD to feel like a moral victory. The Jacksonville crowd even flipped on him mid-fight and went from booing to cheering him, WrestleMania 13 style!
When it comes to Khamzat himself, I don't think his stock *drops* from this fight necessarily, but a little bit of that invincibility aura vanished tonight when he got dropped. It turns out: he bleeds, and he can get hit like everyone else. He got hit A LOT in this fight too...displayed a good chin, but you don't want to get hit that much in the future. Made up for not getting touched in his first four fights, I guess!
Still though, beating the #2 ranked welterweight in the world on your 5th UFC fight (11th professional bout overall) is pretty fucking impressive. ESPECIALLY in the slugfest we saw tonight. I don't wanna harp on the guy for not nailing another 15 second knockout. It was actually awesome to see him get tested against adversity!
If Colby Covington really is next for Khamzat, I'd be thrilled - I think Chimaev beats him, but that'd be a great fight. Colby doesn't have that Burns power but he sure as hell has output. Plus, that build-up would be bananas.
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Hard to believe there's a couple title fights about to go down because that felt like the main event. I need a cigarette.
P.S. How about Khamzat sitting on the cage, chillin while Burns walked out? Hilarious, never seen a fighter do that before.