Little question Khamzat Chimaev will get title shot with Paulo Costa win

Daniel Cormier thinks Paulo Costa is a No. 1 fighter for Khamzat Chimaev.

Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) returns when he takes on Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC 294 on Oct. 21 at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi.

Costa will likely be Chimaev’s first struggle since September 2022 when he submitted Kevin Holland. His absence has raised questions, however both manner Cormier sees huge implications for ‘Borz’ if he can beat Costa.

“I do not perceive why Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t fought since he fought Kevin Holland,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “There’s extra to this story than we all know. I would dig to attempt to discover out, however he is combating Paulo Costa.

“If he beats Paulo Costa, Khamzat Chimaev can have earned himself a title struggle at 185 kilos. And I do not suppose anybody can disagree with that. I do not consider beating Gilbert Burns, going up and now beating Paulo Costa does not provide you with a championship alternative. This makes you the No. 1 candidate between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis.

Previous to beating Holland, Chimaev positioned himself for a shot on the welterweight title when he outlasted former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. Cormier sees the wins over Burns and Costa as a giant argument for a shot on the middleweight title.

“We thought the Gilbert Burns struggle was going to show rather a lot about Khamzat, and he did,” Cormier stated. “It taught us that he’s pretty much as good as he could be. It additionally taught us that irrespective of the extent of competitors, this younger man goes to compete the identical manner – and he did.

“He received a really aggressive struggle in opposition to Gilbert Burns, however Gilbert Burns’ willingness to face within the fireplace and struggle him is what made it a extra aggressive struggle. Now he has a much bigger man in Paulo Costa who is able to do the identical.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s Occasion Hub for UFC 294.