Khamzat Chimaev was fasting during training for Gilbert Burns fight at UFC 273 as he was observing Ramadan to make win even more amazing

Khamzat Chimaev deserves a lot of credit for what he did against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier believes.

The Russian-born Swede scored a unanimous decision victory over the then number two ranked welterweight last Saturday and has rocketed himself into third spot in the rankings.

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Cormier, one of only four fighters to become a double champion in UFC history, said the fact Chimaev was fasting for Ramadan - a holy month observed by Muslims worldwide - in the lead up to the fight, makes his victory over Burns all the more extraordinary.

“One thing that we are not really talking about much in terms of Khamzat... Khamzat is a Muslim,” Cormier explained.

“He’s fasting [from dawn to dusk] and taking on the biggest fight of his entire career this weekend. I had a guy that lived with me, and he could barely train wrestling. 

“So to train and prepare for a high-level fight right now speaks to the type of savage that Khamzat Chimaev really is.”

Ramadan runs from April 1 to May 1 this year so Chimaev would have been finishing his training preparations and taking the actual fight while fasting, which can significantly reduce his strength and energy.

Chimaev is now 11-0 and had 10 straight finishes before going the distance with Burns.

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Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is expected to defend his title against Leon Edwards this summer, potentially during international fight week at the start of July in Las Vegas.

UFC boss Dana White likes the idea of Chimaev facing number one ranked Colby Covington next with the view to the winner facing whomever the champion is after Usman v Edwards.

“I don’t care. I’ll fight everybody,” Chimaev said at the UFC 273 post-fight press conference.

“If that guy [Covington] don’t call the cops and Dana White doesn’t go to jail, I will be happy for the fight. I’ll come to the fight, and I’ll smash his face,” Chimaev added, referencing the altercation between Covington and Jorge Masvidal.