The struggle for Khamzat Chimaev to land a fight continues.
The unbeaten star is chomping at the bit to compete, but Chimaev (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is yet to be booked since choking out Li Jingliang in the first round at UFC 267 in October.
Chimaev’s name has been linked to Gilbert Burns (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC), and while the fight hasn’t materialized yet, “Borz” is certainly willing to facing him next.
“Everybody is talking about me, but nobody wants to fight with me because we kill everybody,” Chimaev said on his YouTube channel. “For me, it doesn’t matter. Gilbert Burns talked about Brazil. I’m more Brazilian than him because my coach is Brazilian. I’m a blue belt under Alan ‘Finfou’ (Nascimento). I know many times my coach smashed (Burns), too, on the mats.
“We are going to choke him out. A ‘Finfou’ blue belt against a black belt. I like this guy, actually. He’s a funny, nice guy. I want to fight with him. But in war, brother, I can’t be nice with somebody. I want to eat everybody. Take my money. Take my belt. I’m so hungry. When I talk about fighters, I’m hungry.”
He continued, “I hope I will fight in Brazil, as well. Nice country. Nice people.”
Another name Chimaev has been in talks to face is Neil Magny, who has continuously called him out. According to Chimaev, the holdup was never from his side, either.
“People talk about a fight with Neil Magny; I don’t know why UFC didn’t make this fight,” Chimaev said. “I can smash him tomorrow. Tomorrow, tonight, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. He’s such a skinny guy. Look at him, and look what he did against Li Jingliang, and look at what I did to him. You see the different level. (Jingliang) didn’t get to throw a punch. I smashed him. I played with this guy, and he (Magny) had a tough fight with him, and he talk about he can win against me. No brother, I’m going to eat your legs.
“I’m going to eat everything. I’m going to take his heart. Belal (Muhammad) and the karate guy, (Stephen) Thompson. He lost. He said maybe I’m going fight with (Chimaev) in the future. Brother, you showed your skills. Your level is weak. If Belal holds you down, I will put you under the cage, brother. I don’t know how these guys think they will win against me. Ten fights, 10 finishes, and I didn’t lose one second in my fights. I beat everybody. These guys don’t know I’m coming for them. The real money is here Dana White. They know that.”
Chimaev has never shied away from a challenge and is also seeking a fight with former two-time title challenger Colby Covington, who hasn’t minced his words towards him.
“Who do they have more in the top 10?” Chimaev asked. “Colby is talking. I want to fight with this guy. I want to finish him faster than Usman did. Usman finished him in what round? If he finished him in the second round, I’m going to finish him in the first minute, and then people will understand my level.”
Khamzat Chimaev open to Gilbert Burns in Brazil: ‘We are going to choke him out’