Just like a newer version of the iPhone, Khamzat Chimaev claims he’s simply an upgrade on Kamaru Usman ahead of their hugely anticipated clash at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
Unbeaten in all 12 professional bouts, Chimaev faces the former long-reigning welterweight champion in the co-main event at Etihad Arena on Saturday night.
Usman, who lost his past two fights having won the previous 19, agreed last week to step in for Paulo Costa after the Brazilian was pulled from the card because of an elbow injury.
While the 170lb champion, Usman had been tipped to take on Chimaev, but now will do so at middleweight.
“Since day one, when I get to the UFC, everyone spoke about Khamzat-Usman, Khamzat-Usman, our wrestling skills, our striking, all of these things,” Chimaev, 29, said on Wednesday during the official media day.
“Usman is a fighter like me. But he’s old version, I’m new. He’s different; like [when] iPhones come out. He’s like iPhone 5, and I’m like the Pro.”
When Chimaev’s analogy was later put to Usman, the Nigerian-born American smiled and initially paid respect to his upcoming opponent.
“He’s as advertised,” Usman, 36, said. “He’s very tough, he’s big, he could strike, he could wrestle, he can grapple, he can do it all. So can I. I think he’s as advertised, but you don’t know until you know.
“Ignorance is bliss sometimes. I give him all the props in the world. He’s definitely done everything he needed to do with what he’s been presented with.
“But iPhone Pros don’t fit in certain pockets. You might need just a regular iPhone. They both take good pictures, and they both work just fine.”
On taking the fight on short notice, Usman said: “I wanted this. I asked months and months ago. But the company wasn’t interested at the time and wanted to go in a different direction.
“Then they ran into a problem. Who do you call at a time like that? You call a bad man to step in.”
Usman added: “Khamzat is impressive. He’s done his job and taken care of his opposition. But this is where you’re tested. You want to go up against the best; it’s a challenge.
“This is what I dream about, fighting the best, and I will never pass up that opportunity. It’s what I love to do, and I’m going to maximise the opportunity.
Chimaev, now one of the sport’s marquee names, has blazed a trail through the UFC since debuting in Abu Dhabi in 2020. Three of his six victories in the promotion to this point have taken place in the capital.
Now based in Dubai, the Chechen-born athlete said he not surprised Costa did not make the octagon to face him at UFC 294. Chimaev just wanted to compete for the first since September last year.
“When I see the media that [Costa is] jumping out, I wrote to [UFC CEO] Dana White and then said, ‘Brother, please give me someone, I need to fight.
“[Usman] came for money, and the money fight is me.”
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
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Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
