3 reasons why Khamzat Chimaev can beat Kamaru Usman - and 2 reasons why he can't

#2: Khamzat Chimaev is currently riding a wave of confidence that could be hard to stop

Khamzat Chimaev's aura of invincibility may be difficult for any fighter to break

Momentum is arguably one of the most important keys to success inside the UFC. Right now, no fighter has as much momentum as Khamzat Chimaev.

Prior to UFC 267, it was easy for observers and fellow fighters alike to write Khamzat Chimaev off as nothing but hype. After all, while he’d won three fights in quick succession in 2020, his opponents weren’t the strongest. Since then, he’d been on the shelf battling COVID-19.

After his whitewashing of Li Jingliang, though, it’s hard to dispute the idea that he’s a very real contender for the UFC welterweight title. Jingliang had been beaten in the UFC before, but never quite like that. It was a truly eye-opening performance.

More to the point, the wave of momentum that Chimaev is now riding will only add to the massive aura of invincibility that he already gives off.

‘Borz’ clearly believes that he’s the greatest fighter on the planet and that it’s his destiny to smash anyone in front of him. Right now, nobody’s proven him otherwise.

Could it be argued that if he were to fight Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title, his confidence could work against him? Perhaps. However, there’s an equal chance that it could work in his favour, too.

Facing a fighter with this much momentum would be a difficult task for any UFC fighter, even one as battle-hardened as Usman. Jose Aldo, for instance, was seen as an all-time great when he wilted in the face of Conor McGregor’s speeding train of momentum.

Essentially, until someone actually tests him, Khamzat Chimaev will continue to believe that he’s unstoppable. Even for someone like Usman, that kind of confidence could be difficult to break.

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#1: At the age of 34, Kamaru Usman is getting no younger

At the age of 34, could Kamaru Usman's prime almost be at an end?

Kamaru Usman is undoubtedly one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history. However, while his title reign still feels like it is in its infancy, he’s actually been around the promotion for a surprisingly long time – six years to be exact.

More to the point, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is already 34 years old, and he turns 35 next May. That doesn’t make him an old man by anyone’s standards, but it also wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that his athletic prime may be coming to an end in the near future.

In comparison, for instance, Georges St-Pierre – the fighter Usman is looking to surpass as the UFC’s welterweight GOAT – had already hung up his gloves at the age of 34, having made nine successful defenses of the UFC welterweight title.

Matt Hughes, meanwhile, was just 33 years old when St-Pierre dismantled him and took his title away – making him look like a fossil in the process.

So what does this mean for Usman? It means that his spot at the top of the ladder could be under threat.

Right now, Khamzat Chimaev could easily be seen as the young lion of the welterweight division. At 27, ‘Borz’ is just about reaching his prime years. While he’s already 10-0, he’s been in far fewer tough fights than Usman has.

So while ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ looks nearly impossible to stop at the current time, the truth is that at his age, the wheels could fall off at any time.

It’s easy to forget, but a high-level athlete like Usman has probably picked up a multitude of niggling injuries over the years. In his mid-30’s, they may be beginning to add up.

In a potential fight between Usman and Khamzat Chimaev, then, it’s possible to envision a scenario that would see the young lion overpower his more experienced opponent, as we’ve seen so many times before in the UFC.