Khamzat Chimaev says Donald Trump helped him return to the U.S

After astir 3 years, Khamzat Chimaev stepped connected American ungraded again, and according to him, mostly acknowledgment to Donald Trump.

The undefeated fighter, who volition look Dricus du Plessis successful a middleweight rubric combat astatine UFC 319 connected August 16 successful Chicago, has faced US visa issues for years. Many judge these problems are related to his narration with Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen person who is nether terrible US sanctions for quality rights abuses.

This is wherefore the erstwhile 2 fights took spot successful Abu Dhabi, but present the concern is different. Chimaev did astir of his preparations successful California and is acceptable to execute successful beforehand of an American audience.

"It wasn't my fault. Everyone knows I didn't person a visa for the USA. That's wherefore I fought lone successful Abu Dhabi. And now... Donald Trump is here, and present we are, we're going to fight," helium said with a grin successful an interrogation with MMA Fighting.

Donald Trump and Khamzat Chimaev

Trump, a adjacent person of UFC president Dana White, has a agelong past of supporting the organization. He opened the UFC successful Atlantic City successful 2001 and has besides announced a White House spectacle successful 2026 to people the 250th day of the United States.

But Chimaev doubts helium volition beryllium invited: “Look astatine my face. I don’t truly judge it. They’re going to nonstop maine to immoderate migration camp. I’m an athlete, I’ve been grooming each my life. And immoderate radical tried to resistance maine into governmental shit, truthful they canceled my visa. I don’t cognize why. I conscionable privation to train, fight, enactment my family. Athletes shouldn’t person thing to bash with politics. I’m not politically active.”

He adds: “I don’t recognize wherefore sports are utilized for governmental messages. Sports should bring radical together, not disagreement them. I would beryllium blessed to combat there, but honestly – I uncertainty it.”