Khamzat Chimaev's Next UFC Fight Already Lined Up, Dana White Reveals Blockbuster Opponent

Dana White has big plans for Khamzat Chimaev should he beat Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, revealing his next opponent.

'Borz' has enjoyed a meteoric rise to UFC stardom since making his Octagon debut in 2020.

He's 4-0 in the UFC as he takes on his toughest opponent to date at UFC 273.

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The 27-year-old faces No.2 ranked welterweight Burns in a pivotal clash in the 170lbs division.

If Chimaev comes out victorious in Florida, then he'll meet No.1 ranked welterweight Colby Covington, who's fresh off beating Jorge Masvidal.

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On Chimaev, the UFC president said via MMA Fighting: "I think if Khamzat Chimaev wins this weekend, we see him and Colby Covington next.

"So, I have a fight coming up on ABC. In a perfect world, if everything plays out right, I would love to do Khamzat vs. Colby (there) if Khazmat should win on Saturday night."

Chimaev vs. Covington would likely produce the next No.1 UFC welterweight contender, with Leon Edwards set to face title holder Kamaru Usman in the summer.

Usman, who outpointed Covington to defend his UFC title in his last outing, talked up the potential of facing the dangerous Swedish fighter in the future.

"I think he's doing a good job with the opposition he's been presented so far," Usman said of Chimaev. "I do think he's a couple of fights away because I look at Edwards and he hasn't lost to anyone since he fought me over six years ago.

"And now he's in the position to get a title shot. It's kind of difficult to just cut everyone out.

"You got guys like [Vicente] Luque, [Belal] Muhammad, [Gilbert] Burns is still there; Covington is still there. When you've got guys like this, that you've never faced and you just want to skip them and fight for the title. It seems a little bit unfair to the rest of the guys in the division."

On Chimaev's skillset, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' stated: "I think he's a good competitor. Obviously, we haven't seen him tested. But I think he's a good competitor.

"He's scary with what he's done with even though there was minimal opposition. He's done what he was supposed to do with those guys and that's big."