Khamzat Chimaev earned the UFC middleweight championship after defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago.
Champion Delivers Belt to Chechen Leader
Days later, Chimaev flew to Chechnya and handed the title to Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic. Kadyrov previously opened a concentration camp targeting LGBTQ+ people in 2017.
Personal Ties Influence Decisions
Chimaev called the belt “important for my country” during an interview with Joe Rogan. He trains frequently with Kadyrov, who also attended his 2022 wedding.
Travel Issues and Political Connections
Chimaev faced difficulties entering the United States due to his Chechen connections. UFC CEO Dana White leveraged his relationship with former President Donald Trump to resolve the issue.
Concerns About Kadyrov’s Influence
Observers hope Chimaev avoids the fate of Kadyrov’s former associate, UFC fighter Abdul-Kerim Edilov, who died under mysterious circumstances.
