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Khamzat Chimaev is only confident that one Russian star will leave UFC 333 as a champion
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Khamzat Chimaev is certain that at least one of his fellow countrymen will leave Abu Dhabi with UFC gold in their possession.

The Octagon is back in the Middle East this week for the annual UFC numbered event at the Etihad Arena, where two title fights will play out on October 24.

After bantamweight king Petr Yan settles his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333, the main event will feature two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski’s defense against Movsar Evloev.

The Chechen-born Chimaev will have an eye on his fellow Russians’ championship bouts, but he is seemingly only confident about his undefeated compatriot leaving Abu Dhabi with a belt.

Who finishes this bantamweight trilogy on top at UFC 333? 👀

Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan touch gloves ahead of their fight at UFC 323
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Khamzat Chimaev picks Movsar Evloev to beat Alexander Volkanovski but is on the fence about Petr Yan’s chances

While Chimaev, Yan, and Evloev were born in Russia, the bantamweight champion is not from the North Caucasus region like the other two.

That geographical connection evidently matters to ‘Borz’, who recently backed Evloev to dethrone Volkanovski at UFC 333.

But when it came to Yan’s third clash with Dvalishvili and the first defense of his second title reign, Chimaev was less sure of who to side with.

“It’s going to be good fights,” Chimaev told Red Corner MMA. “Everybody looks in good shape.

“Movsar, we’re from the same country, so hopefully we’re going for his belt. … We’re gonna take the belt and go home.

“Petr and Merab, I don’t know,” he continued. “This fight is gonna be crazy. I can’t (predict it).”

Chimaev and Evloev had much different paths to their first UFC title shots.

While the Chechen-born Emirati fighter tore through his opponents with brutal finishes to earn an opportunity, the Ingushetia native has zero stoppages on his 10-0 UFC record.

Evloev is planning to change that with an emphatic title-winning performance against the legendary Volkanovski this Saturday at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.

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