Next weekend on the main card of UFC 273, we are going to see one of the more hyped fights of 2022. Super prospect and rising star Khamzat Chimaev (10-0) will make his fifth appearance inside the octagon as he takes on Gilbert “Durinho” Burns (20-4).
Burns is the second ranked welterweight in the UFC and he’s coming off of a win against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Prior to that win, he fought Kamaru Usman for the title at UFC 258 last February.
In that fight, Burns started extremely fast by rocking Usman in the first round. However, the champion regained his composure and would go on to stop Burns in the third round of their title fight.
It was Burns’ first and only loss since moving to the UFC’s welterweight division. After struggling at lightweight, Burns decided to stop cutting the extra weight and moved up to 170 pounds. That decision changed his career.
Burns went on an incredible run that saw him knock out Demian Maia and completely dominate Tyron Woodley. Many thought that he was going to be the main to dethrone Kamaru Usman. Overall, Burns is now 7-1 in the UFC’s welterweight division.
UFC 273 Odds
By resume and the eye test, Gilbert Burns is one of the very best welterweights in the UFC. Yet, he is a massive underdog in his fight next weekend. It’s almost comical how lopsided the odds are for the Burns – Chimaev fight.
Khamzat Chimaev is everything the UFC is looking for in a star. He reminds me of Khabib Nurmagomedov yet even more devastating. He can smash you on the ground and he has legitimate one-punch knockout power on the feet.
Chimaev has a gravitating personality and he’s blowing up into a superstar. In four UFC fights, Chimaev hasn’t even been hit. He’s just ran through everyone and it’s clear that the oddsmakers believe that he’ll do the same to the former title challenger.
Despite being 7-1 at 170 with only losing to the champion, Gilbert Burns is a staggering +400 underdog for next weekend’s fight. Burns is as live of an underdog as I can remember and I”m sure there’s going to be plenty of hard core fans betting that line.
That being said, Khamzat Chimaev is so good that he might make the -600 line he’s on look generous at UFC 273. It’s such an intriguing matchup and I can’t wait to see it all unfold a week from tomorrow.