As the US Presidential election nears, Khamzat Chimaev believes the key to his MMA career is dependent upon Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Related: Khamzat Chimaev next fight: ‘Borz’ is back in October to face a UFC middleweight legend
While speaking to Adam Zubayraev ahead of his UFC 308 bout with Robert Whittaker, the middleweight contender shared his belief that Trump can get him to a title shot.
“They promise me a title eliminator every time. When I fought Gilbert Burns it was the number one contender fight. After the [Kamaru] Usman fight I didn’t get the title shot either. Now it’s the third time. Let’s see. Hopefully, they will give me the title shot. As long as Donald Trump is not the president, we can’t come back to the U.S.”
Khamzat Chimaev has been unable to enter the United States due to his close association with Chechnyan warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. In August of 2023, the US State Department issued visa restrictions and sanctions against Kadyrov for human rights abuses.
Chimaev has not fought stateside since his submission win over Kevin Holland at UFC 279. He has only been booked in the Middle East since. According to “Borz” that geographic roadblock has made a championship opportunity with the US-based promotion fail to materialize.
“Maybe that’s the reason. Let’s not cover the truth. But I’m not upset. Wherever they let me fight, I will fight. Whenever I get the belt, let it be so,” he said.
Trump’s friendship with UFC CEO Dana White has spanned nearly 20 years. White has even campaigned for the former reality TV star with appearances at the Republican National Convention.
In Chimaev’s eyes, this alliance is central to his reentering the United States and getting the full support of the UFC. When asked if he could “suddenly turn up in the US” if Trump were reelected, he responded, “Of course. He is a Republican like Dana White. I think they will be friends with Russia again.”
Khamzat Chimaev Focusing on Rest and Recovery Ahead of UFC 308
Another theory on why the undefeated fighter has yet to challenge for a UFC title is his inconsistent attendance in the Octagon. After rattling off three finishes in the first three months of his UFC tenure, Chimaev has been noticeably inactive.
He has only competed four times since 2020 with five canceled bookings. Even his September 2022 victory over Holland came after a weight failure mandated an entire reshuffle of the main card, scrapping a main event against Nate Diaz.
The upcoming Whittaker fight is also a rebooking, following Chimaev’s late-stage withdrawal from UFC Saudi Arabia in June.
Chimaev points to unusually intense training for his health failing in multiple training camps. “I used to go to the gym and just train until I was done,” he told Kabayraev. “But then I ended up in the hospital like the last time when I was in hospital three times in a row within three weeks. My immune system went down, I got sick,” Chimaev continued.
Khamazat Chimaev will meet Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 308 on Oct 26. The event will take place in Abu Dubai at Eithad Arena.
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