The UFC Fight Island 8 headline event between Khamzat Chimaev (9-0) and Leon Edwards (18-3) on 20th January was scrapped due to both fighters pulling out due to COVID-19. However, Chimaev is making a different headline.
Just days after the news of welterweight and middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev contracting COVID-19 broke out, the Russian-born Swedish fighter was seen meeting Ramzan Kadyrov, the Head of the Chechen Republic.
Days after contracting COVID, Khamzat Chimaev seen together with Ramzan Kadyrov
In a video clip shared by Gazeta Esportiva reporter Bruno Massami on Twitter, Chimaev was seen hugging Kadyrov and also having dinner with the Chechen President. Check it out below-
UFC Fighter @KChimaev (Khamzat Chimaev) had a meeting this week with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. pic.twitter.com/AvJvAHmYYh
— Bruno Massami (Бруно Массами) (@BrMassami) January 5, 2021
Massami claimed the meeting happened earlier this week, which is raising eyebrows in the MMA contingent because its the same week when Chimaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz revealed the fighter was still dealing with lung problems due to COVID.
“Khamzat had coronavirus and when he went back to gym, his lungs did not recover 100 percent,” Abdelaziz was officially quoted by ESPN last week, “He needs time for his lungs to recover, and right now it’s about taking that necessary time.”
“Right now I’m recovering. I feel better and will train at home,” Chimaev himself stated as he boarded a flight back to his ancestral land, “My head was hurting so I took a test and it came back positive.”
Khamzat Chimaev seen without mask in public amid COVID struggle
Despite contracting the virus and suffering from lung troubles, Chimaev was recently seen without wearing a mask during media interactions as well as while making appearances in front of fans.
In a recent clip shared by RT Sport MMA on YouTube, Chimaev was without mask after landing from his flight to the Chechen Republic.
Touted to continue the legacy of former lightweight ruler Khabib Nurmagomedov, Khamzat Chimaev made a stout UFC debut in the octagon in July 2020 in UFC Fight Island 1, defeating John Phillips via Submission with a D’Arce choke.
A former competitor in the Brave CF, the 26-year-old wrestler of Chechen descent had his third and latest UFC bout against Gerald Meerschaert on UFC Fight Night 178 on 19th September last year in Las Vegas, where Chimaev thumped the American in a quick first-round knockout.
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