Khamzat Chimaev has told Kamaru Usman he is "too old" to teach him any lessons when the pair meet at UFC 294.
Chimaev is undefeated as a professional fighter, winning all 12 contests to date including eight first-round finishes.
The 29-year-old has flown up the UFC rankings since his debut in July 2020 and is fourth in the promotion's welterweight rankings.
Saturday's opponent Usman, 'The Nigerian Nightmare', is seven years older than Chimaev but is ranked three places higher despite back-to-back defeats against welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Speaking at the press conference ahead of UFC 294, Usman claimed to be "the best at mixing it up in the world".
It was a claim which Chimaev laughed at, responding by asking: "If you are the best how come you have lost two or three times?"
Usman put the defeats down to "being human", and warned Chimaev that it was "a lesson he will teach him".
Chimaev once again smiled at Usman's comments before saying: "You are a good fighter but you are not at my level.
"You can't teach me anything you are too old for that.
"Be a coach in a gym, it is better for you, healthier for you."
Usman vs. Chimaev fight date, start time
- Date: Saturday, October 21
- Time: 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. UK time
- Usman vs. Chimaev cagewalks (approx): 4 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. UK time
The main card is set to get underway at 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. UK time with the main event cagewalks scheduled for 5 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. UK time. These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
What channel/stream is Usman vs. Chimaev?
- U.S.: ESPN+
- UK: TNT Sports
Fans in the U.S. will be able to stream the fight on ESPN+ (click here for more information), while TNT Sports will broadcast the fight in the UK.
Where is the Usman vs. Chimaev fight?
The fight will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Kamaru Usman record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: May 11, 1987
- Height: 6' 0"
- Reach: 76"
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 20-3
Khamzat Chimaev record and bio
- Nationality: Swedish
- Date of birth: May 1, 1994
- Height: 6' 2"
- Reach: 75"
- Total fights: 12
- Record: 12-0
Makhachev vs. Volkanovski fight card
Main Card
- Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski; for Makhachev's UFC lightweight title
- Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev; middleweight
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker; light heavyweight
- IIkram Aliskerov vs. Warllley Alves; middleweight
- Said Nurmagomedov v Muin Gafurov; bantamweight
Preliminary card
- Tim Elliot vs. Muhammad Mokaev; flyweight
- Mohammad Yahya vs. Trevor Peek; lightweight
- Javid Basharat vs. Victor Henry; bantamweight
- Abu Azaitar vs. Sedriques Dumas; middleweight
- Mike Breeden vs. Anshu Jubli; lightweight
- Nathaniel Wood vs. Muhammad Naimov; featherweight
- Viktoriia Dudakova vs. Jinh Yu Freyl; women's strawweight
- Shara Magomedov vs. Bruno Silva; middleweight