There has been some photographic proof that certain UFC fighters have been linked with a Chechen dictator or his associates, and the government is aware of it.
The relationship between several UFC fighters and a man who is sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department has been flagged by the U.S. government. UFC fighters Henry Cejudo, Justin Gaethje, and Kamaru Usman were seen in Chechnya at the invitation of Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov last month and may have found themselves on the radar of the U.S. State Department. The three fighters joined the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya.
The group was seen shooting guns and enjoying the facility that is used to train Russian soldiers for the war in Ukraine. The visit also included a personal touch, as the fighters attended the birthday party of Kadyrov’s son.
Former UFC champs Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, along with Justin Gaethje, are all currently in Chechnya at the invitation of the republic's warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.
Here they are testing out guns at a special forces facility in Gudermes. pic.twitter.com/lJIm8kBHRS
— Karim Zidan 🕊️ (@ZidanSports) November 25, 2022
The U.S. State Department is keeping a close eye on this situation with the UFC
In a statement provided to The New York Times, the U.S. State Department said, “The Department of State is aware of Kadyrov’s association with Chechen UFC fighters.” They did not comment directly on Cejudo, Usman, or Geathje’s involvement, but stated that all U.S citizens should not be traveling to Russia at this time.
These three are not the only UFC fighters to have an association with either Kadyrov or Russian President Vladimir Putin. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev have been seen in the company of one or both of these men in the past.
Kadyrov has been accused of kidnapping, torturing, and killing LGBTQ people in his home country of Chechnya. He has supplied troops to the Russian armed forces to fight against Ukraine in the ongoing war. He has been in attendance at UFC events in the past but there is no official link between him and the UFC as a whole. The UFC has denied a relationship previously and Justin Gaethje admitted that his visit was only to attend a birthday party and shoot some guns. The State Department will be keeping a close eye on the situation.
