You can make excuses, but in both UFC fights that went past 1rd, he faded hard and looked spent after 3rds. Had those fights went past 3rds, he was looking very, very beatable.
I don't care how well Khazmat does / doesn't do. So, making excuses does nothing for me.
It's just a matter of framing these things intelligently.
Fighting a wrestler, grinder, someone who's known to make you work, put the pace on you and outlast you, is a silly thing not to acknowledge when analyzing a short notice fight.
The idea that Khazmat was super gassed in the Burns fight is massively overstated and I think you need to go back and watch it again. He literally threw punches at a high pace up until the final bell. Was maybe a little slower in the third, but they were basically sprinting for 15 minutes. Wasnt breathing heavy or anything, body language, technique, defense, he looked fine, just slightly slower than the first. Burns was the one who gassed, even the commentators said it.
If the Usman fight went 5 rounds, then you'd see a Khazmat who prepared for 5 rounds. Not 3. Along with specific preparation for Usmans greatest attributes.
If Usman had 2 more rounds THAT night, then I'd agree. Could be rough.
But, I don't see that fight going well for him if Khazmat actually prepares for him specifically. His best chance was catching him off gaurd
that night.
People are entitled to believe what they want. But not factoring that into the equation is just bad analysis.