Khamzat Chimaev has been congratulated by Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov as he marked his rise with another UFC victory.
Chimaev was set to face Nate Diaz at UFC 279 last weekend but after missing weight he defeated l ate replacement opponent Kevin Holland inside the first round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Chechen star had faced criticism for his actions prior to the opening bell having been booed by fans after grinning despite threatening to derail the event with his 7.5lb miss of weight.
He has also caused controversy outside of the ring due to his relationship with Chechen warlord Kadyrov, who has been accused of leading anti-gay purges and restricting the lives of women in the republic. Their friendship once again resurfaced after the fight, with Kadyrov posting a message on his Instagram profile with the caption “Akhmat Sila” which is a battle cry used by Kadyrov that translates in English to "Akhmat Power".
