Khamzat Chimaev is denying rumors that he’s unable to combat in america.
It’s been practically two years since ‘Borz’ final fought stateside. That got here at UFC 279 when he stepped on the dimensions massively obese for his welterweight conflict with Nate Diaz. As an alternative, Chimaev ended up combating Kevin Holland at middleweight in a last-second shuffle to avoid wasting the occasion from potential cancelation.
Within the time since, rumors have surfaced that Chimaev is unable to acquire a visa to combat within the U.S. with the prevailing concept being that his relationship with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov landed him on the form of checklist you actually don’t wish to be on.
Nonetheless, Chimaev has denied such accusations, noting that the promotion tried to guide him for UFC 300 in April which emanated from Las Vegas.
“They received me the visa once they wished it,” Chimaev mentioned in an interview with Aslanbek Badaev. “Everybody says I used to be denied a visa. To date we’ve not utilized for a visa. I used to be advised to attend and combat in Arab international locations for now. And I’m ready and as everybody remembers, lately at UFC 300 I used to be provided a combat to carry out in Las Vegas. The principle occasion of the night was in opposition to Leon Edwards. Then they may get me a visa so I might combat there. When wanted, enterprise is working one would possibly say.”
Khamzat Chimaev reveals particulars concerning the sickness that took him out of UFC Saudi arabia
Whatever the cause, the UFC seems solely taken with reserving Chimaev on international playing cards, particularly these within the Center East i.e. Saudi Arabia the place he was anticipated to headline a June occasion in opposition to Robert Whittaker.
Sadly, ‘Borz’ bailed out on the bout after changing into “violently sick” with an undisclosed sickness. Since then, Chimaev has opened up concerning the state of affairs.
“My immunity had dropped very a lot, and we wished to relaxation a bit of bit, for per week,” Chimaev mentioned. “I rested and I didn’t come to my senses… I ended up within the hospital and, to be sincere, I had extreme complications. They mentioned it was stress, there was one thing there, they defined it to me.
“I used to be within the hospital for 2 days, then I used to be dwelling. Per week [I was] like this. Three days later, the identical factor occurred once more, I ended up within the hospital once more” (h/t Bloody Elbow).
Chimaev is at the moment focusing on a return in October when the promotion makes its annual pit cease in Abu Dhabi for UFC 308. No opponent has been introduced, however the undefeated star believes he’s already accomplished greater than sufficient to earn a shot at gold.
