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UFC 299 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
UFC 298 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
Can Islam Makhachev put a definitive stamp on his rivalry with the bantamweight champion? Will Khamzat Chimaev take a step closer to title contention? The boys answer these questions and more on Fight IQ.
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Getting wrist surgery
Chimaev said earlier this month in an Instagram Live that he will undergo surgery to address a torn ligament in his right wrist in the next "one, two weeks," Farah Hannoun of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Chimaev will most likely miss multiple months while recovering from surgery, though he didn't dismiss the possibility of being ready to fight again in April, when he could be included on the UFC 300 card. Before injuring his hand, Chimaev had been expected to get a shot at the taking on Sean Strickland for the middleweight title at UFC 297 on Jan. 20 in Toronto, but Dricus Du Plessis will instead get the chance to try and dethrone Strickland.
Chimaev will most likely miss multiple months while recovering from surgery, though he didn't dismiss the possibility of being ready to fight again in April, when he could be included on the UFC 300 card. Before injuring his hand, Chimaev had been expected to get a shot at the taking on Sean Strickland for the middleweight title at UFC 297 on Jan. 20 in Toronto, but Dricus Du Plessis will instead get the chance to try and dethrone Strickland.
Suffers torn hand ligament
Chimaev was diagnosed with a torn hand ligament following his win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 on Oct. 21, his manager Majdi Shammas confirmed to MMA Fighting.
ANALYSIS
Chimaev initially feared that he may have broken his hand, which hampered his offense for the remainder of the fight, but now that he has a complete diagnosis, he'll have to wear a brace for the next few weeks before beginning rehabilitation. Surgery is not an option for Chimaev right now, but the recovery process will be assessed once the cast gets removed.
Chimaev initially feared that he may have broken his hand, which hampered his offense for the remainder of the fight, but now that he has a complete diagnosis, he'll have to wear a brace for the next few weeks before beginning rehabilitation. Surgery is not an option for Chimaev right now, but the recovery process will be assessed once the cast gets removed.
Statement win over Kamaru Usman
Chimaev defeated Kamaru Usman via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) at UFC 294 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
This ended up being a far more difficult fight for Chimaev than it appeared it would be in the early going. Chimaev dominated Round 1 to the tune of a 10-8 mark on all three judges scorecards, but the final ten minutes were much more tightly contested, with two of the judges giving Usman Round 2 and the other giving him Round 3. Ultimately, however, Chimaev's wrestling was the difference. He finished the fight having connected on 4-of-12 takedown attempts, good for 7:16 worth of control time. Khamzat's striking is a work in progress, his cardio is somewhat questionable and it's fair to wonder how he will perform in fights in which the takedowns aren't landing, but it's clear as day this guy is one of the best in the world at 185 pounds. Chimaev would be a huge favorite over current UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland -- who upset Israel Adesanya for the title in September -- if that fight gets made. One potential obstacle to that, however, is that the broadcast noted that Chimaev believed he suffered a broken wrist in the first round, which limited his wrestling in the later frames. It remains to be seen how the potential injury will affect the UFC's future matchmaking plans.
This ended up being a far more difficult fight for Chimaev than it appeared it would be in the early going. Chimaev dominated Round 1 to the tune of a 10-8 mark on all three judges scorecards, but the final ten minutes were much more tightly contested, with two of the judges giving Usman Round 2 and the other giving him Round 3. Ultimately, however, Chimaev's wrestling was the difference. He finished the fight having connected on 4-of-12 takedown attempts, good for 7:16 worth of control time. Khamzat's striking is a work in progress, his cardio is somewhat questionable and it's fair to wonder how he will perform in fights in which the takedowns aren't landing, but it's clear as day this guy is one of the best in the world at 185 pounds. Chimaev would be a huge favorite over current UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland -- who upset Israel Adesanya for the title in September -- if that fight gets made. One potential obstacle to that, however, is that the broadcast noted that Chimaev believed he suffered a broken wrist in the first round, which limited his wrestling in the later frames. It remains to be seen how the potential injury will affect the UFC's future matchmaking plans.
Given ex-champion as new opponent
Chimaev will compete against Kamaru Usman in a middleweight fight at UFC 294 on Oct. 21, according to Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
Initially, Chimaev was supposed to compete against Paulo Costa, who withdrew from the pay-per-view fight because of a staph infection in his right elbow. Instead, Chimaev will get a middleweight debutant but a former welterweight champion. When Usman was champ, the two were once a potential fight at welterweight before Chimaev decided to move up a weight class. What was once unlikely is now coming to fruition with UFC 294's co-main. Though he is facing a middleweight debutant, Chimaev defeating Usman would all but solidify him as the division's No. 1 contender.
Initially, Chimaev was supposed to compete against Paulo Costa, who withdrew from the pay-per-view fight because of a staph infection in his right elbow. Instead, Chimaev will get a middleweight debutant but a former welterweight champion. When Usman was champ, the two were once a potential fight at welterweight before Chimaev decided to move up a weight class. What was once unlikely is now coming to fruition with UFC 294's co-main. Though he is facing a middleweight debutant, Chimaev defeating Usman would all but solidify him as the division's No. 1 contender.
Next bout scheduled
Chimaev is slated to face Paulo Costa in a middleweight fight at UFC 294 on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Chimaev, who most recently defeated Kevin Holland at UFC 279, will take on Paulo Costa at UFC 294. The 29-year-old Swedish fighter currently boasts a 6-0 record in the UFC.
Chimaev, who most recently defeated Kevin Holland at UFC 279, will take on Paulo Costa at UFC 294. The 29-year-old Swedish fighter currently boasts a 6-0 record in the UFC.