Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Early UFC Betting Odds
The thrilling potential clash between former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and rising star Khamzat Chimaev has the mixed martial arts (MMA) community on the edge of their seats. While the bout is not yet official, both fighters have expressed interest in fighting each other.
The fight has a compelling narrative attached to it, as it presents a potential turning point for both fighters’ careers. Usman, known as “The Nigerian Nightmare”, is looking to bounce back from back-to-back championship losses to current division kingpin, Leon Edwards, after five consecutive title defenses. A victory over Chimaev would undoubtedly put him back in the title contention conversation.
“It’s a fight that Usman wants, that’s no secret,” UFC president Dana White said during the UFC Vegas 73 press conference last weekend. “Usman literally came to the office to lobby for that fight. I told him I love him. Usman is one of the best guys we’ve ever worked with. I love working with the guy. Look at all the things he’s accomplished.”
Chimaev, also known as “Borz,” has been a relentless force since he arrived in the UFC. He has competed at welterweight, middleweight, and even at a catchweight of 180 pounds, with a flawless record across multiple weight classes. A win over a seasoned veteran like Usman would firmly establish Chimaev as a serious contender for the title.
And although Usman and Chimaev have been campaigning for the fight, it seems as though the UFC isn’t close to getting signatures on this one, yet.
“I don’t do catchweights — don’t do it,” White claimed. “So, you know how Khamzat is. If you talk s—t to Khamzat, he’s going to go right at it with you and doesn’t care who he fights and all that stuff. I don’t know. Obviously, we’ve been making a lot of announcements lately, we haven’t made that announcement yet because we don’t have the fight done yet. But, we’re working on stuff for Khamzat.”
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Usman vs. Chimaev Betting Odds
In betting terms, Chimaev being at -190 means that you would need to wager $190 to win $100, while Usman at +140 indicates that a $100 bet could return $140. This implies a 65.52% probability of Chimaev winning and a 41.67% probability for Usman.
For our international readers, these odds translate to 10/19 for Chimaev and 7/5 for Usman in fractional format, and 1.53 and 2.40 in decimal format, respectively.
How to bet on Usman vs. Chimaev
To place a bet on this electrifying bout, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the UFC/MMA section.
- Find the fight listing for Usman vs. Chimaev.
- Choose your preferred fighter and place your bet.
Note that these early lines are exclusive to BetUS and are part of their “special futures” section, showcasing odds for anticipated fights.
Fight Breakdown
Let’s take a look at the statistics of both fighters:
Tale of the Tape
Chimaev boasts an impressive undefeated record and an edge in height over Usman. However, Usman has a slight advantage in reach.
Striking
When analyzing the striking statistics, Khamzat Chimaev stands out for landing a remarkable 7.30 significant strikes per minute, considerably higher than Usman’s 4.46. However, Chimaev absorbs more significant strikes per minute (3.98) compared to Usman (2.75), indicating a higher offensive but potentially riskier style of fighting.
On the other hand, Usman boasts a superior significant strike defense of 54%, versus Chimaev’s 41%, which can play a crucial role in minimizing the damage taken from his opponent’s attacks. While Chimaev’s striking accuracy stands at 59%, Usman’s is slightly lower at 52%, yet still impressive.
Grappling
In the grappling department, Chimaev appears dominant with an average of 3.98 takedowns per 15 minutes compared to Usman’s 2.96. His takedown accuracy of 57% surpasses Usman’s 45%, and Chimaev has a perfect 100% takedown defense although Usman has clearly defended against a higher number of takedowns with an impressive 97% defense rate.
Chimaev also showcases a more aggressive submission game, attempting an average of 3.5 submissions per 15 minutes. In contrast, Usman, known for his control-oriented grappling, attempts a modest 0.1 submissions on average.
Overall, this potential match-up promises a thrilling contest, bringing together two elite fighters with contrasting styles. All statistics have been sourced from UFC Stats.
Final Thoughts
The speculated fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman brings together two fierce competitors, each with his unique strengths. Chimaev, the welterweight boogieman with impressive striking and grappling stats, versus Usman, the former champion, known for his strategic fighting and robust defense.
If you are inclined to place a wager on this high-stakes bout, remember that the best odds currently available are -190 for Chimaev and +140 for Usman at BetUS.
Jack Miller is a seasoned MMA journalist and analyst. Now, as a writer for The Body Lock, he provides comprehensive fight coverage and in-depth analysis.
