UFC star Khamzat Chimaev used the UFC 273 press conference as an opportunity to verbally tear into welterweight foe Gilbert Burns.

This Saturday night in Jacksonville, Khamzat Chimaev will meet Gilbert Burns in what many are calling the people’s main event at UFC 273. While it isn’t set in stone, the popular opinion is that the victor of this contest will receive a shot at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman - if he still has the belt - later this year.

The fight will serve as the biggest step up in competition yet for Chimaev as he prepares to lock horns with a man who has already competed for the 170-pound strap.

Alas, even with Burns being such a respected figure, ‘Borz’ hasn’t been afraid to go after him in the lead-up to their showdown.

During the UFC 273 pre-fight press conference, the 27-year-old took things to a whole new level with ‘Durinho’ sitting right across from the Chechen sensation.

“I’m gonna smash that guy and knock him out, one minute. I promise you. Little boy. Scared, scared boy. I feel it. I said to him yesterday, show his power, he couldn’t show that. He said I’ll show you Saturday and he turned around. I was there.”

“There’s power in my hands. I don’t care what I gotta do, I’m gonna jump in that cage and smash that guy. I don’t care. He will be down, I will smash his face. [If] we stand up, I will knock him out. I don’t care, brother. That guy is not f***ing from Brazil. I am more in Brazil than him, I am from Cantagalo. He is not Brazilian.”

Is Chimaev the favourite?

In terms of what the bookmakers think, Khamzat Chimaev is the clear favourite in his fight with Gilbert Burns.

His 4-0 run thus far in the UFC seems to be doing all of the talking for him and anyone who has been around this guy for longer than a few minutes has great things to say about his potential.

Burns isn’t going to be intimidated but if the predictions are correct, we could be witnessing the ascension of a special talent.