Khamzat Chimaev paid tribute to Vladimir Putin's friend, Chechen warlord and president Ramzan Kadyrov, after his win at UFC 273.
Kadyrov, who was sanctioned on multiple occasions by the US government, is a major player in Russian MMA. The Chechen president is also one of the leading voices supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And in his post-fight speech after a tight unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns last weekend in Florida, Chimaev made his feeling about Kadyrov clear. He took to the microphone after the fight to leave a message in Russian, which was later translated by Chechen Human Rights organisation vayfond.
"Brother, I know you're home watching me now," Chimaev is reported to have said, after having bragged of calling the Chechen leader on Facetime ahead of the bout in an Instagram story. "I said I'd finish it quickly today.
"May Allah be pleased with you, brother, God bless you. I know you're watching me. May Allah be pleased with all Chechens. God bless you!"
The word "vasha", which Chimaev used at many points, directly translates to "brother", but is often used as a term of respect for one's elders in Chechnya. Chimaev also frequently refers to his friends and coaches as "brother" in English when he speaks.
Kadyrov first had sanctions imposed by the US government back in 2017 for alleged Human Rights abuses, when he was named as a close ally of Putin. At the time, authorities in America accused Kadyrov of overseeing “an administration involved in disappearances and extrajudicial killings”, and banned him from entering the country.
And in December of 2020, new sanctions were imposed again. “The Department has extensive, credible information that Kadyrov is responsible for numerous gross violations of human rights dating back more than a decade," said then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement during December of 2020, when they were imposed. "[These are] including torture and extrajudicial killings.”
Chimaev was born in Chechnya, where his interest in the martial arts began as young as five. He would later immigrate to Sweden with his mother, where they joined his older brother and he established himself as a strong freestyle wrestler before moving over to MMA at age 23.
He has forged a close friendship with Darren Till in recent weeks, and was cornered by the Brit for his fight with Burns last weekend. Chimaev, despite having less than half of Burns' experience and just one top 15 win, was a monstrous favourite heading into the clash.
But the Brazilian showed his class throughout, and reminded fans that the much-hyped Chimaev still has a ways to go in the sport before he could be a top contender. However, all three judges scored the bout in favour of Chimaev, who is now 11-0 as a professional.
Chimaev and Burns have verbally agreed to a rematch after the razor-close fight, ideally to be a fight night main event over five rounds as opposed to three.
