Khamzat Chimaev has been congratulated by Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov as he marked his rise with another UFC victory.
Chimaev was set to face Nate Diaz at UFC 279 last weekend but after missing weight he defeated l ate replacement opponent Kevin Holland inside the first round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Chechen star had faced criticism for his actions prior to the opening bell having been booed by fans after grinning despite threatening to derail the event with his 7.5lb miss of weight.
He has also caused controversy outside of the ring due to his relationship with Chechen warlord Kadyrov, who has been accused of leading anti-gay purges and restricting the lives of women in the republic. Their friendship once again resurfaced after the fight, with Kadyrov posting a message on his Instagram profile with the caption “Akhmat Sila” which is a battle cry used by Kadyrov that translates in English to "Akhmat Power".
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Kadyrov is currently facing potential US treasury sanction and is also known for being an ally for Russian president Vladimir Putin who has recently declared war in Ukraine. Chimaev has frequently been spotted spending time with Kadyrov during his UFC career including recently when he was 'choked out' when the pair treated onlookers to a grappling sparring session.
The warlord was also partly responsible for preventing Chimaev calling a halt on his surging UFC career after being struck down with a severe bout of coronavirus in 2020. “Khamzat said that his recovery from the illness has been slow, and, in an attempt to be honest and frank with the fans, he decided not to give them hope," Kadyrov said when his decision to return was made.
"I told him that all Chechens were upset by this news. I reminded Chimaev that the youth, whom he inspires, are pinning their hopes and expectations on his success and if fans need to wait for his return, then we will all look forward to his return to the octagon with trepidation and patience."
Chimaev has expressed his frustration at politics being mixed with sport as there remains close examination of his friendship with Kadyrov and has voiced his support for the "motherland". The Chechen star now finds himself another step further in his UFC career and will be eyeing a shot at the title next which is currently held by Leon Edwards.
During his post-fight speech, Chimaev saluted his hometown Chechenya and vowed to "kill" everybody. "Hey, so what now, say something," he said after the final bell. This is Chechnya motherf******. I'm the most dangerous guy here, I've got guns for everyone, I'll kill everybody."
"I don't care about that s***, I'd kill that guy, I'll go through everybody. Let them come down, I'll give it to both guys, I'll fight both of them."
