Despite a difficult win over Kamaru Usman in a challenger match, popular Chechen fighter Hamzat Chimaev has opened as a clear favorite in his upcoming bout against reigning UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Currently, the odds on Chimaev’s victory are 1.323 (75.61% probability), while Strickland’s success is estimated at odds of 3.5 (28.57% probability).
Bookmakers released the starting odds for the title fight shortly after Chimaev defeated the Nigerian by a majority of judges’ votes at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi and UFC head honcho Dana White confirmed Borz’s challenger status in the middleweight division.
In the organization’s updated middleweight division rankings, which were released two days after the challenger bout, Hamzat Chimaev moved up to ninth position, while Kamaru Usman retained the top spot in the UFC’s welterweight rankings.
As a reminder, Kamaru Usman agreed to accept a fight with Hamzat Chimaev on eleven days notice, replacing Paulo Costa, who pulled out due to illness.
There is no information yet on the timing of the title fight between Sean Strickland and Hamzat Chimaev.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/32975-nazvan-favorit-v-boyu-khamzata-chimaeva-i-shona-striklenda.html?rand=19907
