Khamzat Chimaev secured a hard-fought victory against the former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, in a captivating co-main event on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi.
While Chimaev ultimately emerged victorious, Usman presented him with arguably one of his toughest challenges to date.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that Usman stepped into the Octagon on short notice after Chimaev’s original opponent, Paulo Costa, was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.
Despite limited preparation time, Usman demonstrated unwavering determination and displayed his warrior spirit against one of the sport’s elite fighters.
The judges’ scorecards sparked considerable debate. Chimaev’s control was so dominant that all three judges awarded him a 10-8 advantage in the first round.
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The second round unfolded with a different narrative for both fighters. Usman chose to keep the fight standing, adopting a more measured approach. He exhibited impressive striking skills, delivering powerful strikes to Chimaev at various points.
Nevertheless, Chimaev managed to secure a late takedown, a move that swayed the round in his favor.
The third round showcased an even more remarkable performance from Usman. He successfully defended against Chimaev’s takedown attempts, displaying resilience and skill as he repeatedly returned to his feet.
The fight concluded with an intense exchange of powerful strikes between Usman and Chimaev.
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However, Chimaev’s late takedown and control persuaded Cleary to award the final round to the Swedish-Russian fighter.
Though Usman lost Saturday’s fight, many were impressed that he pushed his better-prepared opponent to the wire.
Lately, it has not been the best of times for Nigerian fighters with Israel Adesanya also served his own bitter pill of defeat earlier in the year.
