When I first heard that this fight was happening, I really couldn't believe it at first. Khamzat Chimaev is an absolute TANK, freak of nature type of talent that actively fights in two weight classes, welterweight and upwards to middleweight (185 pounds), While Nate Diaz has fought huge portions of his career at lightweight (155 pounds).
I just simply didn't think this would ever be a possible matchup due to this big size difference in favor of Khamzat, and probably skill at this point in Nate and Khamzat's careers' as well. Khamzat is just so big strong and explosive, and while Nate is game as hell and really skilled, he isn't the athlete that Khamzat is.
But this fight is happening, and man, the more you think about it, the more legendary this is.
Nate on the left, Khamzat on the right.
Khamzat is the epitome of the new school MAJOR hype train, basically a superstar by now.
While Nate is a MAJOR older school superstar. The small difference worth noting is, overall legacy wise, Nate is far and beyond Khamzat in that perspective. Nate has already achieved full fledged unquestioned legend status, whereas if Khamzat retired today Khamzat's legacy would not even touch Nate's level.
This really isn't Khamzat's fault, that's just destiny and math. But at the same time, Khamzat is pretty unique and wouldn't be all the way forgotten by any means if he retired today.
The whole legacy dynamic here is so deep. The MMA lore that will unfold after this fight is stunning. The future MMA math equations will likely be endless and fascinating to look at in 10 years. If Khamzat has a long career of course, that matters a bit too. Khamzat could one day fight at light heavyweight as he ages. 2022 is like the only precious time these two will overlap as pros.
This also might be Nate's final fight in the UFC?!
This fight feels like a movie. Man, MMA is amazing.
If Nate somehow wins this fight, and dips from the UFC, it would just be ULTRA LEGEDARY. The sheer upset would be madness and would just be a MASSIVE addition to Nate's legacy. The MMA math would be extremely juicy to look back on if Khamzat still goes on to do great things in the future.
I think Khamzat gets it done from cutting up Nate too much because of Nate's well known awful scar tissue in his face that's easily cut.
I think Khamzat has a chance of knocking Nate out, but I don't want to see that. I just think Khamzat wins by third round stoppage due to cuts.
There is a small conspiracy Nate is gonna show up and tap immediately or forfeit in some fashion and just screw the UFC or something. But that would be a sort of bad idea I feel, hopefully Nate doesn't do that.
How do you see this fight playing out?
