Khamzat Chimaev says it's impossible for him to respect Conor McGregor

UFC rising star Khamzat Chimaev has stated that he does not respect UFC’s biggest star Conor Mcgregor and that he finds it almost impossible to respect Mcgregor. Khamzat Chimaev has always been vocal about the fact that he does not like Conor Mcgregor. The duo has also engaged against each other on social media platforms. Though Conor never starts any of the Twitter wars he is not the one to shy away from confrontations. Now Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to fight his toughest UFC battle against UFC veteran Li Jingliang on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267.

In his recent interview ahead of his big fight at UFC 267, Khamzat said that he does not like Conor.

“Do I like Conor exactly as an athlete?” Chimaev said.

“Yes, he achieved everything in the UFC – he was a champion in two weight classes. This I respect with him. But it is impossible to respect him as a person.” Quotes via RT.

Khamzat Chimaev vs Li Jingliang at UFC 267

Khamzat Chimaev is now ready to make his much-awaited comeback to the UFC octagon after nearly a year. Chimaev was scheduled to face Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC Fight Night 183 on December 19, 2020. In November, it was announced that Chimaev had tested positive for COVID-19, and soon Leon Edwards also tested positive and the fight was then postponed.

Then it was announced that the bout was rescheduled for January 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 185. But this time Chimaev pulled out of the fight due to post-COVID effects. The pair was rescheduled once again to headline UFC Fight Night 187. However, in February, UFC president Dana White announced the fight was once again canceled due to Chimaev suffering from lingering effects of COVID-19.

Now after a long series of canceled fights, Khamzat Chimaev will be back in the octagon this weekend. Khamzat Chimaev became a star during the Covid times when he fought back to back in a matter of 10 days against the likes of John Phillips and Rhys McKee and brutally defeated them. He then took on Gerald Meerschaert and knocked him out in just 17-seconds at UFC Fight Night 178 last September.

Whereas Li has just had three fights in his last three years in the UFC. His record in his past three fights is 2-1. In his last outing for the UFC Li faced Santiago Ponzinibbio, replacing Muslim Salikhov, on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. He won the fight via first-round knockout.