ABU DHABI – Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev came face-to-face for the first time following Thursday’s UFC 294 pre-fight press conference. After Paulo Costa was ruled out of the event due to a staph infection, former welterweight champion Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC) stepped in as a replacement on 10 days’ notice to face Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in Saturday’s middleweight co-headliner, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+. UFC CEO Dana White has said the bout will be a title eliminator. Usman moves up to middleweight for the short-notice bout after back-to-back losses to champ Leon Edwards at 170 pounds, while Chimaev returns to the octagon for the first time since his quick submission of Kevin Holland at UFC 279. With reputations of being intense individuals, it was no surprise the emotional sparks flew when they engaged in a staredown.
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UFC 294 video: Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev pre-fight press conference faceoff – MMA Junkie