Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman via UFC-Ultimate Fighting Championship Youtube

The hype train is full steam ahead as UFC stars Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman continue their public campaigns to make a matchup a reality.

Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman via UFC- Ultimate Fighting Championship YouTube

37-year-old former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman’s next move has been an open question after suffering back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards, having previously only lost a single fight 10 years ago. Getting up there in age, it’s much easier for “The Nigerian Nightmare” to drag down his reputation and legacy with each additional defeat.

However, Usman has appeared to set his eyes on one opponent specifically to help him back on the path of his fighting crusade and restore his damaged record— Khamzat Chimaev.

Usman was the one who brought up Chimaev’s name during an interview with ESPN MMA earlier in May, kicking off the hype:

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“A fight with myself and Khamzat? Boom,” said Usman. “I’m kind of in a place now where I’m having fun with it, and what’s the biggest, funnest, most intense fight that really makes me feel something? That’s a fight right there. That could headline a pay-per-view.”

It didn’t take too long for Chimaev to consider the challenge as a possibility for his long-awaited return. He tagged Usman on Twitter this week with a series of money bag emojis with a photo of himself training, implying that there was definitely some huge money on the line if they could manage a way to lock down this fight and that he was already preparing for the challenge.

Khamzat Chimaev

Source: Kchimaev Twitter

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Usman himself replied in similar fashion to Chimaev’s callout, tweeting “LFG,” shorthand for “let’s f***ing go.”

Kamaru Usman

Source: USMAN84kg Twitter

This could be a major moment for both fighters, since Usman has already been dealt some big defeats the past year and Chimaev hasn’t fought since September.

Further, the fight could be either be a welterweight or middleweight bout, adding to the drama. Bloody Elbow notes that the way-too-early moneyline sits at -175 in favor of the younger Chechen fighter.

Is this a fight that you want to see the UFC make happen? Let us know in the comments below and across social media.

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