Video
Original Description
Khamzat Chimaev speaks with Brett Okamoto, Brendan Fitzgerald and Chael Sonnen on the UFC 319 Post Show to recap his title-winning performance vs. Dricus Du Plessis, what his future may hold and his journey to becoming a champion.
#UFC319 #UFC #Khamzat #Chimaev
✔ For more UFC, sign up for ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/ufc/youtube
✔ Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔ Subscribe to ESPN FC on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC
✔ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
Video Transcript
Hamzachimay, the new middleweight
champion. They were hinting at maybe two
belts in terms of two divisions. He's
walking out of here tonight, Ch with two
belts. He's got the championship belt
over there and he's got his black belt
just earned around his waist.
Congratulations on that, Hamzot.
Congratulations on the title. What are
you feeling right now, my friend?
Like normal fights. Not
that's I like to be in the cage more
than outside. So
was fun last minute get some punches
happy. Well, this is a honor that you
came up and joined us. So, first off,
thank you for giving us your first
interview. I want to ask you a question
though for myself. I like the champ
idea. I like you as a 70 lb champ and a
205 lb champ, but you weighed in
underweight for this fight. So, are you
more likely to go to 170 or 205 if you
were going to make that move?
I don't care. So, whatever Donna says,
so we go for that. Where is the money? I
go for that, man.
I like mine anymore.
What's this moment like for you? The
calm after. There was a lot of storm
this week, press conference and intense
faceoffs at the weigh-ins and intensity
right up to the start of the fight. What
is it like now for you, Hamza?
Like I said, like normal fights, I
didn't take like uh this fight something
so crazy thing. So he's a human like
everyone else. So I knew I cannot take
the guy down control. Uh I I was
surprised he didn't get to his neck. So
like Usman he I think he did that good
good job in the camp. So the guys did
really good job. I usually get whatever
I want get in the ground you know. So a
lot of submission game I did all all
eight years or every day five days a
week grappling you know. So I think I'm
the best grappling they see my striking
is not bad as well but uh my grappling
is so play well.
Hamzac, congratulations, man. This is
your good buddy Brett Okamoto who's
always bothering you for interviews. I
got one question for you, man. And I
think you probably know what it's going
to be. I want to know if you talk to
your mom. You know, your mom has been
such a big part of this journey for you
and she always asks if you're going to
be a champion. Did you get a chance to
talk to her yet?
She called.
Yeah, she called already.
She called you right after the fight.
Yeah, she like always crying, you know.
So, mom, I'm the champ now. So, she's
happy. What were her what were her
thoughts on you becoming a champ?
She didn't she didn't speak so much, but
she was crying.
All right, I got to ask you again as we
look for what is potentially next. We've
got Kyle Baralo and he is taking on
Imminov in three weeks. Do you believe
that that is likely the number one
contenders match?
For sure. The guys, both guys strong guy
and good fighters. I work with both
guys. They know my level of grappling
and how good I am, you know. So, I know
how good they are. They're good
fighters.
At the end of this fight, it looked as
though you and Drias said something to
each other. Did he congratulate you?
Uh, I don't remember so much. Yeah, he
did. I think he's a good guy. So, we we
speak in middle of runs, but I speak so
I said you do a good job. I speak with
his coaches as well.
Hamzad, it's been 5 years since you made
your UFC debut. summer of 2020, you won
two fights in 10 days. People were
already calling you an eventual
champion. You had lengthy layoffs. Uh
what has this journey been like for you?
How do you describe from 2020 to now
from where you were in your UFC debut to
becoming the champion?
I always knew I will become a champion.
I I had the feeling about that. So when
you don't feel you're going to become a
champ. So you know you got to become a
champ. So you have to trust yourself.
And hosmont, you are you are now the
world champion, but you are the
undefeated world champion. And we only
have one other under contract, which is
Ilia Tapora. So, if I was to look to the
pound-for-pound list, is that a list
that matters to you? And where would you
put yourself?
I don't know. I don't care who does that
things, you know. So, for sure, it has
to be number one.
Congratulations on a well-deserved
victory on staying undefeated and on
that black belt. Thank you very much.
Zachayv, the new middleweight champion
at UFC 319 in Chicago.
[Applause]
[Music]