Khamzat Chimaev by no means met a line he wouldn’t cross. The undefeated middleweight contender proved that after once more this week when he left Daniel Cormier and followers surprised and laughing with a remark that may have torpedoed his possibilities at any White Home card look.
Khamzat Chimaev
During a pre-UFC 319 interview with the previous gentle heavyweight champion, Cormier playfully complimented Chimaev’s look, joking that his face and pores and skin had been “lovely.” The Chechen-born fighter’s response was trademark Khamzat Chimaev – unfiltered.
“I don’t must be lovely. Ladies like terrorists.”
Girls like terrorists
The veteran commentator, clearly taken aback and laughing, fired back: “You’re so crazy, you can’t say that!” But the damage was done, and social media erupted with fans questioning everything from his UFC future to his visa standing.
The timing couldn’t be worse for “Borz.” With Donald Trump and Dana White reportedly discussing a possible UFC occasion on the White Home, Chimaev’s quip has primarily eradicated him from consideration. Followers had been fast to attach the dots, with one writing: “The even 1.3% likelihood of him making that White Home card simply went proper out the window.”
UFC 319
This controversy arrives as Chimaev stands on the precipice of career-defining success. At UFC 319 this Saturday in Chicago, he faces middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in what many think about probably the most anticipated title battle of the yr. The stakes couldn’t be larger – an ideal 14-0 document hangs within the stability, together with years of amassed hype and expectation.
Chimaev’s path to this moment has been anything but conventional. Born in war-torn Chechnya in 1994, he witnessed conflicts that shaped his worldview and perhaps contributed to his controversial sense of humor. His family fled to Sweden when he was 18, where he dominated the wrestling scene before transitioning to mixed martial arts. The journey from refugee to UFC sensation is remarkable, but his comments continue to overshadow his athletic achievements.
His UFC profession reads like a spotlight reel of destruction. Since his 2020 debut, Chimaev has bulldozed by way of each opponent positioned earlier than him. He holds the document for the shortest turnaround between UFC victories – simply 10 days – and has by no means been taken previous the third spherical. His victims embody former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, high contender Gilbert Burns, and most just lately, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, whom he submitted with a face crank in simply over three minutes.
Yet for all his dominance, Chimaev remains a polarizing figure. His relationship with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has drawn criticism from fellow fighters like Sean Strickland, who branded him as supporting a “terrorist dictator.” The controversy follows him wherever he competes, with many questioning whether or not he needs to be allowed to battle in the USA in any respect.
Born Russian, turned Swedish resident, now fighting under the UAE flag – Chimaev’s allegiances shift as often as his weight classes. He maintains his Russian passport while training in Abu Dhabi, creating a complex web of loyalties that feeds into the controversy surrounding his comments.
Dricus du Plessis
The South African Dricus du Plessis has methodically worked his technique to the highest, defeating a who’s who of middleweights together with Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland twice, and Robert Whittaker. His ungainly fashion has been mocked, however results don’t lie.
The champion’s staff believes they’re dealing with an advanced model of their fighter. “You guys can count on fireworks. I consider you will notice a DDP 2.0,” teammate Mark Hulme promised. It’s the type of confidence that comes from understanding your fighter has been examined in five-round wars and emerged victorious every time.
The controversial challenger seeking vindication against the steady champion who defied expectations. Chimaev’s unbeaten record against du Plessis’s proven championship mettle. The explosive grappler against the durable grinder.
