Khamzat Chimaev promises Nate Diaz ‘funeral’ at UFC 279 as blockbuster clash made with Jake Paul tipping veteran to beat ‘fake Khabib’

Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev have agreed to a blockbuster clash at UFC 279.

The pair have verbally agreed to be the main event on September 10 in Las Vegas, but contract are yet to be signed.

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Fans will be salivating at the thought of this huge bout between two of the most popular figures in the UFC at the moment.

Diaz is one of the biggest names in the promotion, but has not competed since his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards in June 2021.

His relationship with the UFC has soured somewhat and has insisted he wants out of his contract - with the Chimaev fight the last on his current deal.

Swedish fighter Chimaev is the fastest rising star in the UFC and has been heraleded as a future champion.

He is 11-0 in MMA, and has won all five of his fights since joining the UFC in 2020.

They are two fighters at completely different stages of their careers, with Diaz begging Dana White for any fight so he can finally end his contract with the UFC.

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Chimaev is fourth in the rankings and could be looking at a title shot early next year.

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will face Leon Edwards at UFC 278, after beating No.1 ranked challenger Colby Covington at UFC 268.

He went back to training just three days after beating Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.

He is next in line should Usman defend his belt, but any slip up against Diaz may scupper that.

Chimaev sent a message to Diaz, promising a vicious finish.

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Through his representative Majdi Shammas, he told ESPN: "I am going to handle Nate Diaz's funeral with the UFC.”

There was plenty of immediate reaction to the news the fight between the two had been made.

Jake Paul wrote: “Betr believe I’m putting my money on Nate Diaz to win versus fake Khabib.”

Ben Askren said: “This might be really ugly.”

Darren Till added: “What a fight.”