Khamzat Chimaev is backing Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. One of the UFC’s earliest endorsers, Trump is a passionate fight fan. Meanwhile, Chimaev, an up-and-coming UFC middleweight storm from Chechnya, has been a popular figure over the past few years. Now, ‘Borz’ has caught his attention before UFC 308.
Khamzat Chimaev fights in Saturday’s UFC 308, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+). Trump is a longtime friend and early benefactor of UFC CEO Dana White. Having the property mogul back in the Oval Office is the quickest way to secure a US visa. Hence, Chimaev recently told MMA columnist Kevin Iole that he veers the MAGA way.
Of course …Let Donald Trump win the fight and I will be there.
Khamzat Chimaev to MMA columnist Kevin Iole for his YT Channel (@KevinIole) for UFC 308 Pre-fight media availability
White reposted the video, prompting Trump to call Chimaev “a great fighter”. How great, in all actuality? There’s just no telling. Three-time Republican candidate and pre-election GOP Nominee Trump has his array of “best fighters“; so there’s that. Subsequently — even though it’s the quickest way to secure a visa, ‘Borz’ later claimed that his stateside ban was a big spoof.
Trump responds to Khamzat, the “great” #UFC308 fighter pic.twitter.com/aCnPzDd1hE
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) October 24, 2024
This is in direct contradiction with his statements and wishes on the ‘Hustle’ Vlog‘ (@adam.zuba) about Trump winning. So all in all, it’s up in the air if he’ll need Trump to his aid. But for now, he is rooting for him and so is he. Will he live up to being all that ‘great’? ‘Borz’, 30 can separate himself from the pack with the clear No. 1 contender bout. The fighter has some clear resolves for his UFC 308 co-main event affair.
Khamzat Chimaev hopes to sway Dana White, move past Sean Strickland post-UFC 308
‘Concede to no one, smash everyone’ has been the go-to motto for the Team Allstars Training Center wrestler. But that has been tough when Khamzat Chimaev has been an unreliable billing, struck with ‘violent illness’. UFC CEO White recently said that a rematch with former champ Sean Strickland will be the next title fight for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. Chimaev wants to change that.
Khamzat Chimaev is ready for UFC 308 (Source: es.agfight.com)Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) takes on former champ Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) co-main bill. In just over a day, he could be that close to gold once again; the one he was promised as a top contender spot in his war with Gilbert Burns. It’s a tough dip against the 185-pound ‘Reaper’. But the fighter wants that by any means.
I hope so, but they said that before, as well, …When I beat Gilbert Burns, I didn’t have my chance. After that was Usman, and ‘if he beats Usman, he’s going to fight for the title.’ I haven’t fought [for the title] yet, so we’ll see.
Khamzat Chimaev during UFC 308 Media Day Official Press Conference interviews; H/T: SBNation Network
UFC 308 Media Day conference interviews began at 8:30 am ET/5:30 am PT; 4:30 pm local time in the Kingdom. Chimaev was quick to admit that one thing holding him back was his inactivity due to health issues. He beat Burns for a prospective Nate Diaz scrap. But he botched his weight cut severely and fought Kevin Holland at 185 marks.
Then came a slow-running decision against Kamaru Usman. But he knows the challenges Whittaker would pose. He knows the Aussie can force the berserker out of him. However, at 13-0, the one upper hand he says he has is that Chimaev has never tasted defeat. If he rolls that thread along, he can surely contend for gold.
If Chimaev, more than a 2-1 favorite to remain so, can win impressively, is it possible he could leapfrog Strickland? Stranger things have happened than such upsets at the top of a UFC title picture after appearances.
