Khamzat Chimaev needed less than three minutes to submit Kevin Holland after being pulled from his fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 279.
Chimaev was originally scheduled to face Diaz in the main event of UFC 279, but the fight was scrapped after the Chechen missed weight by 7.5lb. Diaz refused to accept a catchweight bout with Chimaev and was instead booked to fight Tony Ferguson in the main event, whilst Kevin Holland was pulled from his fight with Daniel Rodriguez to face Chimaev.
As the fight got underway, Chimaev wasted no time in taking Holland down but the American managed to scramble his way back to his feet. The Chechen showed a relentless pace and attempted to secure a d'arce choke and after Holland tried his best to escape, he was forced to tap. "What now? Say something, this is Chechnya motherf*******. I'm coming for everyone, I kill everybody," he said.
Diaz went on to choke out Ferguson in the fourth round of the main event to bring the curtain down on his UFC career - at least for now. The fan-favourite confirmed he plans to explore options in other sports but vowed to return to the promotion in the future. "I’m going to go out there and I’m going take over another profession and become the best at that," he said. "Show everybody I’m the best at that and then I’m going to be right the f*** back here to get a motherf****** UFC title. The best title in the world.”
Elsewhere on the UFC 279 card, Rodriguez outpointed Li Jingling to pick up his fourth consecutive win. Jingliang gave up a 10lb weight advantage in the fight as he was originally booked to face Ferguson, but was shifted to fight Rodriguez when Ferguson replaced Chimaev in the main event. Rodriguez was supposed to face Holland on the card before he was also moved to fight Chimaev.
What were your thoughts on the fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland? Let us know in the comments section below
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