Dana White has announced Khamzat Chimaev will fight Kamaru Usman in the co-main event at UFC 294 after Paulo Costa was forced out of his bout due to injury.
The UFC president and chief executive made the announcement on social media.
Costa’s highly anticipated clash with Chimaev had been in doubt after the Brazilian recently underwent surgery on an elbow injury.
White will now move up from the welterweight division to face Usman in a middleweight clash in Abu Dhabi on October 21.
‘You have been waiting for the co-main event,’ White said. ‘Costa is hurt, all the rumours flying around, we got it done.
‘The number four welterweight in the world Khamzat Chimaev is moving up to middleweight and he will face the number one welterweight Kamaru Usman.
‘So number one versus number four at middleweight, Usman versus Chimaev, we will see you in Abu Dhabi.’
Usman, the former UFC welterweight champion, will be making his first appearance in the middleweight division.
The 36-year-old American had won 15 consecutive fights in the division before consecutive defeats to Leon Edwards.
