Khamzat Chimaev entered the ring not feeling his best for the majority of his match against Kamaru Usman in the UFC 294 co-main event. Despite possibly not being at his peak performance, Chimaev held his own in the competition. The situation resulted in a hard-fought majority decision triumph over Usman, a former welterweight champion. The match took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on a Saturday.
Following the victory, Chimaev revealed to ESPN that he thinks he may have broken his hand in the initial round of the match. He described his hand as a significant weapon in his fighting strategy. And not being able to use it had made it challenging to carry on. “First round, I think I broke my hand and finger,” Chimaev admitted. “I couldn’t punch hard with right hand. My right hand is a big weapon. When you can’t use it, it’s hard to work.”
In spite of a possible hand injury, Chimaev’s performance at his 185-pound debut promises him a shot at Sean Strickland’s title soon, thanks to his win over Usman. However, the undefeated fighter’s priority is to make sure his hand is in good shape. Chimaev suggests he would check the status of his hand. Provided it’s in good condition, he plans to try lifting weights and be ready for the next challenge. “I will check my hand,” Chimaev stated. “If it’s good, I’m gonna try to lift the weights and be ready for the next one.”