Khamzat Chimaev has been slammed by fans for comparing himself to Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson after his latest win.
Chimaev submitted Kevin Holland inside two minutes at UFC 279 last weekend to extend his unbeaten run in the promotion to six fights. The Chechen was originally booked to fight Nate Diaz in the main event of the card, but Diaz refused to accept a catchweight bout after Chimaev missed weight by 7.5lb.
Holland didn't land a single strike on Chimaev before he was choked out and it marks the fourth time Chimaev has achieved that feat in his UFC career. Chimaev was booed by fans during the ceremonial weigh-ins for the event and as he made his ring walk, but he didn't seem to care whilst issuing a X-rated speech in which he threatened to " kill everybody ".
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"Hey, so what now, say something. This is Chechnya motherf******. I'm the most dangerous guy here, I've got guns for everyone, I'll kill everybody. I'm here for all the belts in the UFC, I'm the black belt here. I'm the best boxer, I'm MIke Tyson, I'm Muhammad Ali. Fans have laughed at Chimaev for the comparisons with one user labelling his striking as "s***".
“I'm the best boxer , I'm Mike Tyson, I'm Muhammad Ali, will you stop your a good wrestler but your boxing is s***," they wrote. Chimaev was also criticised for seemingly faking a glove touch at the start of the fight, as another wrote: "Tough to respect the fake touch gloves to takedown, surprised commentators didn't mention it. But why is Holland trying to touch gloves after having beef with him backstage a few days before?
"Khamzat: 'I'm best boxer, I'm Mike Tyson, I'm Muhammad Ali', Get the f*** out of here," a third user commented. "Khamzat saying he's Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali but barely landing a punch the entire time," another wrote. Chimaev's future at 170lb is up in the air after missing weight at UFC 279 despite being ranked at No.3 in the division. The 28-year-old has also fought at middleweight in the UFC, knocking out Gerald Meerschaert in 17-seconds in his lone fight at the weight class.
Chimaev said he will discuss his future with his coach and then make a decision on where he will fight next. "I cut my weight down to 170lb because my coach wants me to be one of the best guys in the world and take three belts," he said. "When we go back home, we'll see what my coach says and then I'll listen to him. If he says welterweight then we do that, if he says light-heavyweight we will do that."
