Khamzat Chimaev is set for a big challenge when he takes on Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. The Swedish fighter is already looking at beating Kamaru Usman next and even trying to fight him that same night.

Kamaru Usman could be in Gilbert Burns' corner at UFC 273. Khamzat Chimaev is hoping it happens so he can go ahead and directly contact the champion to set up his next fight.

“Usman almost handicapped, brother,” Chimaev said in an interview with Daniel Cormier. “His knees doesn’t work, his back hurts, his arm hurts, operation everywhere. The guy is too old, and he’s too slow. They wanna find a way to make money and go away from my way. Israel, I think he will fight me. I don’t think the guy is scared. That guy is gonna fight with me, and I will fight the guy, as well. But this is not my level, that guy. He gives his back to this guy (Whittaker) who never did wrestling in UFC, never took somebody down.”

Khamzat Chimaev wants to make sure that he fights for a belt, even if it means moving up to face the UFC middleweight champion. There is plenty of confidence in the Swedish fighter and he wants to make it count.

“I can take that belt today,” Chimaev said. “Just send me location where is Usman, where is Israel. I’m gonna go and smash them both. I don’t know what the UFC is gonna do. I’m ready. I said it from my first fight: I come here to take my belt. I’m still saying that after my fights.”

It is not clear if Kamaru Usman will be in Gilbert Burns' corner at UFC 273 but Khamzat Chimaev is hoping it happens. He plans on making a big statement Saturday.

“I hope Kamaru will be there in his (Burns) corner, you know? Like talking, help him for training camp and some sh*it,” Chimaev said. “I hope he will be there. So when I knock (Burns) out, I’m gonna go to (Usman), ‘Jump in, you are next.’ So I can beat them both, same night.”