UFC expert: This is why Khamzat Chimaev can’t fight Paulo Costa

No. 6 ranked middleweight Paulo Costa and No. 3 ranked welterweight Khamzat Chimaev. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports and Stefan Romare – Frontkick

Former middleweight champion, now UFC-expert, Michael Bisping recently gave his opinion on the rivalry between No. 3 ranked welterweight Khamzat Chimaev and No. 6 ranked middleweight Paulo Costa.

In a new video on YouTube, Bisping argued why Chimaev should not accept the Brazilian’s recent call out.

“Paulo is setting a trap. Trying to bait him. He’s trying to get Khamzat Chimaev to say ‘You know what, fuck this, I smash this guy, I kill this guy’. But he can’t do that, because if he does that, he is now fighting for the 185 pound belt – if he beats Paulo Costa. If he’s going to become a two-division champion, or a three-weight division champion, which I know some people thinks is crazy, he’s going to start at 170,” Bisping said.

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Khamzat must start with the 170-belt

The UFC expert made a clear point why it’s important for Chimaev to start with the welterweight title, in order to be a double champion.

“If he goes up to fight Paulo Costa, and if he beats Paulo Costa, well, he is probably going to get a title fight at 185, and 170 will seem like a distant memory”, Bisping said.

In his last fight, Khamzat Chimaev defeated Kevin Holland via a first-round submission at UFC 279 on September 3. His rival Paulo Costa comes from a decision win against former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 a month ago.

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