Khamzat Chimaev is poised for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 294, generating significant excitement among fans who have eagerly awaited his comeback, know about his nationality and religion
However, an intriguing development sets this return apart from his previous appearances.
It was recently announced that Chimaev will be making his comeback in the middleweight division. This decision comes after a prolonged feud with Paulo Costa, and their long-anticipated showdown is set to unfold at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Khamzat Chimaev nationality, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, wife and net worth in 2023
🚨| Khamzat Chimaev will no longer represent Sweden in the UFC. 🇸🇪🙅♂️
He will now represent the United Arab Emirates starting at #UFC294 against Paulo Costa. 🇦🇪#UFC294 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/X0ofC9E3h9
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 23, 2023
Who’s Khamzat Chimaev
Although he has previously competed as a welterweight, Chimaev has encountered difficulties with his weight cuts. Consequently, he is returning to the 185-pound weight class, reminiscent of his early days in the promotion.
Furthermore, this marks the first time that Chimaev will not be representing Sweden. His manager, Majdi Shammas, revealed that Chimaev has relocated and will now represent the United Arab Emirates, his new residence, in his future endeavors. Since his promotional debut in 2020, ‘Borz’ has been a stalwart representative of Sweden, making this shift a notable departure.
It’s worth noting that Khamzat, born in Chechnya, has ties to both Sweden and his country of birth. His close association with the Chechnyan leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been a significant factor in this regard. Khamzat has also provided training and cornering support to Kadyrov’s sons, Ali and Dustum. He is a Muslim by religion.
Chimaev got married on 21 May 2022, in Chechnya and the wedding was attended by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov but nothing is known about his wife. He has a net worth of $1 million.
Some speculate that Khamzat’s decision to move away from Sweden may be influenced by political tensions. His affiliation with Kadyrov faced criticism, especially from Swedish right-wing politician Rasmus Paludan.
In early 2023, a series of Quran-burning incidents occurred in Sweden, with Paludan openly targeting Muslims worldwide. One incident involved a 37-year-old Iraqi Christian refugee burning pages of the Quran outside the Stockholm Mosque, leading to protests in several Muslim countries and further Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark. Paludan’s actions, including publicly burning a Quran while calling out Chimaev and Kadyrov, drew accusations of Islamophobia and hate crimes.
Despite facing allegations and controversy, Paludan remained unapologetic. Therefore, it is conceivable that Khamzat, seeking a more peaceful environment, has chosen to distance himself from Sweden. The UAE has long been a second home to Chimaev, and he is likely to find a warm welcome there. Additionally, this move keeps him closer to Thailand, where he frequently trains, potentially making it a beneficial transition in the long run.
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