ABU DHABI – [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] beat John Phillips with a second-round submission Wednesday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 13 in Abu Dhabi.
Take a look inside the fight with Chimaev, who won his UFC debut and kept his unbeaten streak intact with his seventh finish in seven fights.
Result: Khamzat Chimaev def. John Phillips via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 1:12
Updated records: Chimaev (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Phillips (22-10 MMA, 1-4 UFC)
Key stat: Chimaev outstruck Phillips 124-2 and landed 89 percent of his total strikes.
Chimaev on the fight’s key moment
“I never felt in trouble. I do this with all my opponents – I smash them all, first round, second round. I have seven wins, seven finishes.”
Chimaev on returning to welterweight
“I feel amazing. This was the plan: Smash the guy, take the money and go home. My coach told me, ‘You have to do wrestling now. Take him down and smash him.’ I listen to my coach. I did this. This division is not my division, … but I felt good. I did this before – same weight class. But down in weight is much better for me. I want to be champion at welterweight. I’m going to be champion in that.”
Chimaev on what he wants next
“I could fight next week if they have (a fight). I told them, ‘Give me Donald Cerrone.’ If they give (him to) me, it’d be an amazing fight for me. I’m going to smash him and everybody is going to talk about it.”
To hear more from Chimaev, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
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