Khamzat Chimaev reveals unusual way to keep ego in check

The recently crowned UFC middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, precocious revealed that helium is trying to rein successful his ego aft achieving fame and fortune. His method whitethorn beryllium a spot unusual, but it is surely absorbing and shows however earnestly helium takes self-confidence and humility.

Chimaev considered placing a “churt” – a accepted Chechen tombstone – successful his home, successful a spot wherever helium would ever spot it. “Borz” wanted the sedate to beryllium a regular reminder of humility. He would look astatine it each time and punctual himself that thing successful this satellite is permanent, careless of the fame and wealth 1 has portion alive. As helium himself admits:

It each lasts precise short.

In an interrogation with the media, the 27-year-old combatant calved successful Chechnya, present a national of the UAE, said that his older member prevented this idea:

Uh, I get goosebumps. I ever person 1 reply for myself and I adjacent thought astir really doing it, but my older member wouldn’t fto me. You know, our accepted tombstones? I wanted to get excavation and enactment it up astatine home, wherever I could look astatine it each the time, to punctual maine that each this is precise short-lived. It’s not forever. Champion oregon not, affluent oregon poor, I’m going to dice soon anyway.

Fear of death

Chimaev emphasizes that the fearfulness of decease and gathering the Almighty keeps him grounded and humble:

You stay quality contempt everything that’s happening astir you. You tin beryllium the king of the world, but if you judge successful God, you stay existent and human.

The 27-year-old combatant is presently dealing with a insignificant ft wounded that requires surgery, but he’s expected to instrumentality to the octagon aft Ramadan successful 2026 to support his title, perchance against Nassourdine Imavov. His attack to self-reflection and reminding himself of his ain mortality shows however earnestly helium takes the intelligence broadside of his MMA career.