Kamaru Usman showed how tough he was this past Saturday. After he stepped into the octagon to face the rising star Khamzat Chimaev on short notice. It was a closer contest than many people thought it would be. Usman put in a robust account of himself as he put it all on the line. Chimaev ultimately won the fight, but by a majority decision, it is safe to say Usman proved why he was one of the greatest of all time. However, it is now three losses, and the former welterweight champion explained his mindset post-fight with Megan Olivi.
The Fight At UFC 294
There was a lot of hype around this fight, as the two fighters were incredibly well-matched on paper. Usman had to overcome significant adversity in the first because Chimaev completely dominated him on the ground, and Chimaev was on his back for most of the round. In rounds two and three, Usman started returning as he landed some nice strikes. However, Chimaev was the better fighter on the night and got his hand raised by majority decision.
Kamaru Usman After Loss
The loss to Chimaev marks a third in a row for Usman, and after dominating for so long, it must be hard to lose. Speaking post-fight, Usman explained his mindset.
“You drop two razor-thin ones to Leon [Edwards],” Usman said. “You go years without losing, and you drop two close ones like that, you start to question things kinda and begin to doubt yourself and you almost forget what it feels like. If there’s anything I can take away from tonight, I need to trust myself more and trust my coaches.
“Fighting a young, hungry bull like that…I didn’t trust my shape. I’m a championship fighter, and you can’t start slow like that. Give me a couple of extra rounds, and I think the world knows what that result might be.”
Quotes via MMA News
It will be interesting to see what is next for Usman, as he is an excellent fighter with the tools to get back on top.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
