Khamzat Chimaev will make his UFC return after a one-year hiatus this Saturday at UFC 308. The ‘Borz’ will take on former champion and top contender Robert Whittaker in a five-round middleweight clash. Ahead of the fight, Chimaev has caught the attention of fight fans with his latest social media post.
Chimaev has attracted a variety of criticism over the years due to his close relationship with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. Recently, Chimaev shared a picture of him with Kadyrov and captioned it, ”Elder brother.” The tyrant has been accused of involvement in several war crimes and other controversies. The U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on Kadyrov for several human rights violations.
These include extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, several rounds of sanctions and visa restrictions were introduced that targeted Kadyrov connections. This could be one of the biggest reasons why Khamzat Chimaev still can’t enter U.S. soil.
Former UFC champion Sean Strickland recently took to social media to mock Chimaev for his relationship with the ‘terrorist dictator’. Despite the criticism, Chimaev remains optimistic about future U.S. leadership changes. He is looking forward to obtaining a visa under the Donald Trump administration. However, for now, the fighter has a task in hand to take care of in Abu Dhabi.
Khamzat Chimaev claims to be the best wrestler in UFC
The fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker was supposed to take place earlier this year but was canceled. Chimaev got hospitalized, and Whittaker took on a short-notice fight with Ikram Aliserov. The Australian tackled the challenge with flying colors and got a KO victory.
With a two-fight winning streak, Whittaker is in red-hot form and plans to hunt Chimaev inside the octagon. The former champion is highly confident about his striking and cardio going into the fight. However, that doesn’t concern the Chechen star, who plans to give a one-sided performance.
I don’t care about this guy… why should I be worried about him? I am complete MMA fighter. I am the best wrestler in the UFC
Khamzat Chimaev via UFC 308 Countdown
Chimaev’s wrestling and relentless pressure are well-known, while Whittaker seems prepared for the challenge. A victory at UFC 308 could move the winner closer to a title shot. With immense hype surrounding the fight, fans eagerly anticipate the outcome, as it could reshape the division’s future.
