Khamzat Chimaev has come under fire for his relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov, the Head of the Chechen Republic.
The top-ranked welterweight contender is coming off a dominant win over Kevin Holland at UFC 279. Chimaev went into fight week for the outing as a fan favorite but ended up becoming one of the most antagonistic figures in the sport after his incredible performance due to his antics during the buildup.
Following the bout, Chimaev is being probed for a more nefarious cause, first reported by Karim Zidan.
Khamzat Chimaev has a seemingly strong bond with Ramzan Kadyrov
Kadyrov has been a controversial figure for the last few years, stemming from frequent accusations of human rights abuses. He gained notoriety for allegedly carrying out assassinations, abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and purges specifically targeting the local LGBTQ+ community.
As the protests rage on against the idea in Dagestan, Kadyrov recently started forcibly conscripting Chechen men for Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Chimaev shares a seemingly strong relationship with Kadyrov and regularly promotes the dictator and his team on his social media accounts.
Chimaev faces heat for his ties with Kadyrov as he forcefully conscripts Chechens for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
In a recent photo posted on his Instagram stories, Chimaev shared a snap of Kadyrov playing with his pet dog.
“We have a lot of messages about Chechens being forcibly sent to [fight in] the war,” Ibragim Yangulbayev, leader of regional opposition movement 1ADAT, told The Moscow Times. “People imprisoned on fabricated criminal charges are offered the chance to sign a contract with the armed forces. The police promise to release them if they agree.”
‘Borz’ was also scrutinized for a photo he posted with Adam Delimkhanov accompanied with a slogan of praise. Delimkhanov serves as Kadyrov’s leading commander in Ukraine and led the Chechen military units in the Donbas region along with the siege of Mariupol in March 2022.
