Kamaru Usman Regrets Not Asking for Five-Round Fight Against Khamzat Chimaev

Kamaru Usman Regrets Not Asking for Five-Round Fight Against Khamzat Chimaev

Kamaru Usman has looked back at his fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 and admitted there is one thing he wishes he had done differently. The former UFC welterweight champion said he now regrets agreeing to a three-round fight because he felt much stronger than he expected as the bout went on.

What happened?

Usman stepped in to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023 after accepting the fight on short notice. It was also his first fight at middleweight after spending years competing at welterweight. Many expected the change in weight, along with the limited preparation time, to make things even harder against an undefeated opponent like Chimaev.

During the fight, Usman approached the bout with what he called “welterweight efficiency.” He wanted to stay calm and avoid using too much energy early because he expected the bigger weight class to affect his cardio. However, the opposite happened. Looking back, Usman said he reached the halfway point of the third round and still felt fresh.

Why it matters for Kamaru Usman

That feeling changed the way he viewed the fight. Rather than being disappointed with his conditioning, he came away believing his body had responded much better than expected, even after spending much of the fight defending Chimaev’s wrestling and grappling. Usman admitted that his biggest regret was not asking for a five-round fight. He believes having two extra rounds could have changed the outcome because he felt he was getting stronger while Chimaev appeared to slow down after a fast start.

What comes next?

At UFC 294, Chimaev controlled much of the opening round with his wrestling and maintained enough of an advantage to earn a majority decision. However, several fans and analysts felt Usman had finished the fight well, especially in the closing stages. His ability to stay composed after being taken down several times also drew praise. Instead of focusing only on the result, Usman said he chose to take something positive from the experience.

The former champion explained that realizing he still had excellent cardio gave him confidence that he could continue competing at the highest level. The clip shared by @Home_of_Fight quickly caught the attention of MMA fans, with many discussing how differently the fight might have played out over five rounds. Others pointed out that Usman accepted the matchup on short notice against one of the most dangerous fighters in the division and still managed to make the contest competitive until the final bell.

While the loss remains on his record, Usman’s latest comments show that he sees UFC 294 as more than just a defeat. For him, the fight also confirmed that his endurance and recovery were still among the biggest strengths in his game, giving him belief that he could continue challenging elite opponents.

Usman's decision to reflect on his loss and find positives is a testament to his resilience and determination. As he looks to the future, it will be interesting to see how he applies the lessons he learned from this fight in his upcoming matches.

Usman's next move is uncertain, but one thing is clear: he will be back, and he will be ready.

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