Since the beginning of his time in the UFC, Chimaev has attracted attention due to his specific aura of an uncompromising killer and divided MMA fans. Some love him, others hate him. At first, he was very active in the Octagon and on social networks, where he confidently challenged almost all his colleagues. However, he has recently stepped back from the limelight. He has fought only two fights in the last two years. And as he himself says, it was primarily due to health problems.
“You can say that I got rid of depression. I had a few problems, but I solved everything. Thank God. I’m only human too and I have my problems. Sometimes you think too much. I’m stuck in depression. Now I’ve moved on, I have a new team. Now I have a doctor and a nutritionist on my team. I have a team like I never had before. Turns out I wasn’t even taking the right vitamins regularly. I just kept training on the mat and fighting.”
However, there are voices in the media suggesting that Chimaev’s long absence is also due to the alleged ban on entering the United States. He hasn’t fought in the US since September 2022, when he defeated Kevin Holland, and he hasn’t stepped foot there for at least a year and a half. Multiple sources, including his former trainers, said “Borz” was unable to obtain a visa. According to him, these are just rumours.
“People say a lot of different nonsense,” he responded in an interview for CBS Sports with journalist Shakiel Mahjouri. “I was in the USA and I can come there anytime. But a lot of shit happened in my life. I was sick, surgery. That’s why I didn’t wrestle as often as before.”
He then added to the fight at UFC 308 against Robert Whittaker: “Abu Dhabi is close for me, so I’ll just jump in and wrestle here.” He further stated: “I have been to England, Great Britain, the USA, and in December I will also go to Australia. I can be anywhere. So I don’t know who has a problem with me. People say different things. So I really don’t know.’
It’s an interesting statement given that there is a record of Khamzat claiming that he really can’t get a visa. “Until Donald Trump is president, we can’t go back to the US,” he declared in September.
Khamzat is one of many Russian and Caucasian fighters who are having trouble getting a US visa after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to Guardian reporter Karim Zidan, everything is complicated for Khamzat by Chimaev’s very close relations with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Whatever was behind Khamzat’s problems, most fans will be interested to see how he performs on Saturday. If he beats Whittaker, a top three middleweight, he will jump from 13th to within striking distance of the title currently held by Dricus du Plessis. But the Australian “Dead Man” will certainly not give his scalp away for free.
