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Fans love Khamzat Chimaev in the United States. For nearly three years, Chimaev has been reportedly unable to fight in the US due to his friendly relationship with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of war crimes and human rights violations.
Earlier this week, Chimaev confirmed that President Trump approved his visa and allowed him to fight in the U.S. at UFC 319 in Chicago.
“Everyone knows I didn’t have the visa to [travel to] the US. That’s why I didn’t fight only once [but twice] in Abu Dhabi. So now Donald Trump is here, we go for a fight.”
Chimaev alluded to his alleged relationship with Kadyrov that kept him from fighting in the U.S.
“I’m an athlete, a sportsman – all my life I’ve been training. Some people put me in a position like political and break my visa down and I don’t know why.
“I’m just doing [it] for my family – fighting, training. Athletes don’t have to be with politics. I’m not connected.”
On Thursday, Chimaev received loud cheers while his opponent, Dricus Du Plessis, was booed by the Chicago crowd at the UFC 319 press conference.
@jzosports Dricus Du Plessis loudly booed by Chicago crowd, Khamzat Chimaev cheered #dricusduplessis #khamzatchimaev #ufc319
If Chimaev wins on Saturday, he said he would prefer to fight outside of the United States to make more money.
“After that, I hope we get in Abu Dhabi as well, defend the belt. No (I don’t want to fight in America more), I wanna fight in UAE, bro. You make more money there, that’s my country, I represent that country, the best country in the world so I’m always happy to fight there,”
Chimaev faces off against Du Plessis on Saturday August 16th in Chicago on ESPN PPV.