In a post-fight interview at UFC 294 on Saturday, Khamzat Chimaev, a UFC fighter from Chechnya, addressed Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Russian republic, requesting permission to participate in the battle in Palestine as the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies.
After defeating former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, Chimaev, 29, gave an impassioned speech in which he discussed the various conflicts that are currently occurring across the world.
Khamzat Chimaev gave a sanitized English speech in the post-fight interview.
Khamzat Chimaev talks about Palestine
“Muslim, Christian, Jewish it doesn’t matter, be together and let us live in this world” ❤️
— OOC MMA (@oocmma) October 21, 2023
“People, you know what’s going on in the world right now. I wasn’t happy because I had to fight in a cage this week while watching kids die. It doesn’t matter where in the world: in Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, USA, it doesn’t matter where it happens. When children die, it’s hard. I love children… I have a boy, three-months-old is waiting for me at home.”
Chimaev added: “When someone dies, I don’t know what to say… Muslims, Christians, Jews, it doesn’t matter.
“Please, people, be together. Let us live in this world and let us be happy. Thank you, guys!”
While, his post fight interview was very inspiring, he had a different tone in his native language.
Khamzat Chimaev wants to fight for Palestine
Chimaev had a strong choice of words to say in his native language. Here’s what he said:
“May Allah be pleased with all of you Chechens, May Allah strengthen you all. Today a lot of you have come here and a lot of you are watching along at home. President, may Allah be pleased with you, may He strengthen you, standing with you and fighting for you isn’t that hard.”
Khamzat Chimaev continued further in the emotional message:
“If Allah allows me to, Wallahi I will go there as the first person. By Allah, give me a rifle and let me go to Palestine. Allah be pleased with you. Wallahi, I’ve not been raised to be in here wearing shorts. Do you Chechens not know the heart we have in our body? If I get permission to fight for Allah, I’m ready to die for him. I’m not as worried about dying as I am worried about my Muslim brothers.”
More than 4,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed since the Israel-Gaza conflict erupted earlier this month, following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel which prompted retaliatory airstrikes against Gaza.
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