Chimaev said he was in the same conditions with Usman at UFC 294

“Everyone says that Usman came in as a replacement, but I also took the fight on short notice. I didn't prepare for Usman. We worked on striking techniques, practicing punches and kicks. We thought that the opponent wouldn’t fight at all. Changing opponents is very difficult,” the fighter said.

Let us remember that initially at UFC 294 Chimaev was supposed to fight with Paulo Costa, but he contracted a staphylococcal infection and was forced to withdraw from the fight.