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‘I Make Everyone Scared’: Chimaev Says He’s Ready To Fight Anyone In UFC

By Jake Beardslee · July 28, 2023

After a year out of the octagon, surging UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev is poised for a dramatic return against Paulo Costa in October. Khamzat Chimaev, Instagram

UFC rising star Khamzat Chimaev is ready to return to the octagon and “smash” his next opponent, Paulo Costa. “I’m going to make that guy cry. You know, in the cage,” Chimaev said of top-ranked Brazilian Costa. “Like I always do.” The just-announced middleweight matchup is set for October at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.

Three-time Swedish National champion Chimaev has not competed since his stunning first-round win over Kevin Holland last September. Asked what he’s been up to during the furlough, Chimaev replied, “I don’t know. I make everyone scared, you know. So yeah, Usman said I’m a boogeyman. And all these guys think about me when they come to fight,” he said in an interview backstage at UFC London.

Chimaev said he is ready to take on anyone: “I fight with everybody. I ask Dana White. I never said no, so I’m always ready.”

The match against Costa will take place at 185 pounds. Chimaev said he can make welterweight again if given enough time to shed the weight. But for now, he will focus on the middleweight division and his goal of capturing UFC gold.

“Of course” Kamarudeen Adesanya is on his radar, Chimaev said, now that the middleweight champ from Nigeria has reclaimed his belt. “If they say he’s the champ, of course he’s on my eye… I want to have my belts, you know?”

Chimaev even floated an interest in stepping up to the light heavyweight division if the opportunity arises. “My plan, if somebody wants to fight, I mean, it doesn’t matter,” he stated.

As for his upcoming matchup with Costa, Chimaev made his intentions clear: “Smash, smash somebody. Make money. You know so I don’t know, to make that guy cry. Go home, be in Brazil. You know… so I’m going to go smash this guy, let him cry.”

It seems the boogeyman is back and ready to resume his brutal path of destruction through the UFC ranks.

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After a year-long absence, rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev is ready to return to action and pick up right where he left off. In his interview, Chimaev exuded supreme confidence as he made bold claims about taking down top-ranked Paulo Costa in their upcoming match. While some fighters may talk trash to hype a fight, Chimaev has consistently backed up his words inside the octagon with dominating performances. A win against Costa will put him on track to be the next big thing in the UFC.