A mostly cordial meeting between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns at the UFC 273 host hotel on Wednesday gave way to a heated showdown between the welterweights at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday.
There was no real animosity during the chance encounter as they started their weight cut, but those niceties went out the window as they sat opposite each other on stage. Chimaev said he would give a tough fight to the former UFC champion.
“I’m going to smash that guy, knock him out in one minute [or] less,” Chimaev said. “I promise you. Boy, he’s just too small. He’s a scared boy.
“I said to him yesterday show his power. He didn’t do that. He told him he would show it to you on Saturday, and then he turned his back. I was there. You’re too little brother. You must go to another division .”
Burns was all smiles in response as he answered Chimaev’s challenge.
“I’ll show you Saturday,” Burns said. Keep that energy. It’s possible .”
Chimaev was not listening to questions at all during the beginning of the conference. He continued making emphatic predictions regarding his fight against Burns and taking aim at his heritage.
” I’m going to kill that man,” Chimaev stated. I have the power to do what I want. I don’t care what I’m going to do. That guy is going to be a slayer. I don’t care. He will be down [on the ground], I will smash his face. If it will be standup, I will knock him out. I don’t care.
“That guy’s not f***** from Brazil. He is more Brazilian than I. He’s not Brazilian. He speaks English, he cannot speak Portuguese.”
Burns wasn’t baited into a fiery exchange because he claimed he couldn’t even comprehend what Chimaev was actually saying.
“I can’t understand,” Burns said. “Where’s the translator?”
The back-and-forth continued until the odds for the fight were brought up as Burns is sitting as a heavy underdog to Chimaev despite a much deeper resume than his undefeated opponent.
Before Burns could even answer, Chimaev shouted back at him before slamming the microphone and then his fist down on the table, which echoed throughout the arena.
“Chimaev stated that he is the underdog. “The king is here! You are my king! You can see me from behind the curtain .”
Burns chuckled as they watched Chimaev so passionate in that instant. Maybe he was realizing he could be getting in the way of his opponent.
“You ain’t gonna do s***,” Burns said. “He’s mad! He hit the table. See you Saturday, buddy.”
Chimaev has not lost his confidence since he first arrived at the UFC. He certainly did not appear less confident on Thursday.
“That guy cry at all his fights,” Chimaev said of Burns. “When he loses the fights, he cries. He lose to my coach [Alan Nascimento] three times, he cries every time. He’s going to do the same thing again.
“If he survives the first round, his face, you won’t recognize him. It will be somebody different. I will finish him in the first round.”
For all the hype and attention being paid to Chimaev leading up to the event, Burns isn’t lost on the fact that he’s been near the top of the welterweight division for much longer while facing the better overall competition.
Burns expects to prove he’s that much better when he finally locks horns with Chimaev on Saturday night in the fight the whole world will be watching.
” I’m back on track to the title,” Burns stated. I gave him the chance. “I’m No. 2 [ranked welterweight], he’s No. 11. I give him the opportunity because I want to face the toughest guys, the best guys in this division. It’s just going to be another step closer to the title.
” We are the main event. No disrespect to the champions for sure. Sorry [Alexander] Volkanovski. But we are the main event .”
for people.
