Khamzat Chimaev Happy to Receive First Real Test at UFC 273: ‘I Love My Face Bloody’

While blowout victories are nice, Khamzat Chimaev gained a measure of credibility in his three-round war against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.

To hear him tell it, it was exactly the type of test that Chimaev desired.

“I like that s—t,” Chimaev said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I love my face bloody and sweaty and kick somebody, punch somebody. Make money, I got [$50,000]. I’m happy.

“Before, I didn’t get that fight. It was my first fight like that. I loved it. I was waiting for that for a long time. I had 10 fights and 10 finishes but this fight happened. I bled, sweat and fought three rounds.”

Indeed, Chimaev vs. Burns figures to be at the top of the list for “Fight of the Year” in 2022 when all is said and done. Chimaev appeared to be on the verge of a finish after dropping Burns in Round 1, but his opponent was able to survive the follow-up salvo of ground-and-pound. From there on, it was a back-and-forth war in which both men showcased impressive durability under fire. In the aftermath, Chimaev admitted that he might have been a little too eager to get the finish.

“I was too excited to knock him out,” Chimaev said. “I was saying to everybody all week I was going to knock him out in one round. I tried to knock him out. That was wrong for me, from the beginning.

“The guy was tough, I didn’t accept that. From the first second to the last second, I tried to finish him. Next time, I’m going to work to be a little bit smarter. I’m going to smash somebody. It wasn’t something surprising from him, but it was wrong for me. My coach told me all the time, you love to throw down and work more technical. I just want to take his head off. Next time, I’m going to work for that.”

Prior to UFC 273, Dana White indicated that Colby Covington could be next for Chimaev with a victory against Burns. Chimaev is on board with that matchup, but then again, he’s willing to face just about anyone.

“If that guy don’t call the cops and if Dana White don’t go to jail, I will be happy to come to the fight and smash his face,” Chimaev said. “Of course.

“I said everybody. I’ll fight everybody. They said [Burns] was No. 2 and Khamzat is No. 11, and the fight was nothing good for Gilbert. Who cares about that s—t? We all want to fight each other and make money. We fight for our families. I don’t care who I fight. I get my money, I get my $50 Gs, I knock somebody out and I am happy.”