Khamzat Chimaev has responded to Petr Yan’s comments about his nationality.
Khamzat Chimaev outpointed Dricus du Plessis to turn out to be the middleweight champion at UFC 319 in August.
In doing so, he followed within the footsteps of Petr Yan by winning MMA’s biggest prize as a Russian.
The previous bantamweight king sent a congratulatory message to Khamzat Chimaev, but in the identical interview clarified that he doesn’t consider ‘The Wolf’ a Russian champion since he fights under the United Arab Emirates [UAE] flag after receiving citizenship in January 2025.
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Khamzat Chimaev confirms his national identity
Khamzat Chimaev admits he was hurt when Petr Yan publicly questioned his national identity.
Regardless that he fights for the UAE, he’s proud to be Russian, and was surprised to get called out by someone he has a private relationship with.
“I do know Petr Yan personally, and he knows me. He knows that I speak the Russian language,” Chimaev told Aslanbek Badaev.
“We used the identical training facility, and he says, ‘I don’t consider Khamzat [a Russian fighter]’. How come, for those who speak with me in Russian?
“Well, let’s take a have a look at this. Yan became a champion long before I did, right? He began making good money. Have I built a gym in Russia? Yes, I even have. I’ve built roads in Russia. I’ve been helping the youth in Russia.
“I haven’t built a gym within the UAE for anyone. I don’t help anyone there. As they’re wealthy, they assist me, and I help my people.
“Even his last name, that’s how I poked fun at him. How can a Chinese guy claim that a Chechen guy is just not Russian?
“After all, it bothered me a bit. I definitely represent Russia because I used to live here, and I grew up here.
“So long as people consider Chechnya a component of Russia, I’m Russian.”
Petr Yan to headline UFC 323
Petr Yan is prone to ignore Khamzat Chimaev’s clap back, as he’s got greater fish to fry straight away.
Earlier this week, Dana White confirmed two title fights will headline UFC 323 on December 6.
Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van will clash for flyweight gold within the co-main event of the evening.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will put his belt on the road against Yan within the important event.
It’ll be a rematch of their March 2023 fight, through which Dvalishvili set a takedown record en path to a dominant decision win.