Oddsmakers are starting to realize that Khamzat Chimaev is human, after all.
Internet bookmaker BetOnline has the undefeated Chechnyan only a slight favorite (-125) over Colby Covington (+105) following ‘Borz’s’ hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns on Saturday.
The odds were released after UFC president Dana White revealed at the UFC 273 post-fight press conference that the promotion was targeting a welterweight bout between Chimaev and Covington next.
BetOnline also updated their odds for a potential title fight between Chimaev and undisputed welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, with ‘Borz’ listed as the underdog (+115) for the first time in his UFC career. Usman, as it currently stands, is a -135 favorite.
The aforementioned odds come in stark contrast to Chimaev’s most recent fight against Burns which saw the Allstar Training Center protege enter the cage as a massive -490 favorite. Chimaev won the fight, but Burns was as game as they come. Both fighters fought toe-to-toe in a Fight of the Year candidate that saw both men leave the Octagon bloodied and battered, but not defeated. Burns was awarded a win bonus despite losing the fight and Chimaev was praised for showing everyone that he’s every bit as tough as he says he is.
Chimaev is now 5-0 in the UFC and #3 in the UFC welterweight rankings.
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