Khamzat Chimaev could be in line for another test against one of the top contenders in the welterweight division if he gets past Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.
The president of the UFC revealed Friday that a matchup is being planned between Chimaev (if Chimaev loses on Saturday) and Colby Covington, an ex-interim champion.
” “I believe that if KhamzatChimaev wins this Saturday, we will see him and Colby Covington the next,” White stated on The Pat McAfee Show .
Chimaev (10-0) has been nearly flawless through the first four fights of his UFC. The 27-year-old native of Chechnya has outstruck his opposition 254-2 in total strikes and 112-1 in significant strikes while putting up historic numbers inside in the octagon. Most recently, he returned from a 13-month layoff to demolish Li Jingliang via first-round submission at UFC 267 and rise into a top-10 spot in MMA Fighting’s welterweight rankings.
While a victory over Burns would propel Chimaev to title contention, Leon Edwards will still challenge UFC champion Kamaru Uman for the welterweight belt sometime in 2022. Covington would be the No. 2 ranked fighter, as the next best option to take on Chimaev. And according to White, if things swing the right way, that’s the matchup the UFC is already penciling in for a big showdown on broadcast TV later this year.
” I have an ABC fight on Saturday, and if all goes well, I’d love to see Khamzat against Colby, if Khamzat wins on Saturday,” White stated.
