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Khamzat Chimaev is undeniably one of the most eagerly anticipated and exciting fighters on the current UFC roster. This undefeated warrior has been with the UFC for a significant period, and his dominant performances have quickly endeared him to fans. Fans adored his cheerful and unflappable demeanor even more.

Despite being one of the most popular in the sport, there’s a looming uncertainty surrounding Chimaev’s original ethnicity and his migration status. Combat enthusiasts are often confused about his national identity, thanks to his migration history. Let’s delve into the originality of Khamzat Chimaev’s origin.

Where was Khamzat Chimaev born? What is his ethnicity?

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Khamzat Chimaev was born on May 1, 1994, in the village of Gvardeyskoye in Chechnya, Russia. It was then a de facto independent state called the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Chimaev started his endeavor in the world of combat sports at the age of five, and since then he has been unstoppable. He won a bronze medal at the Russian National Championship when he was fighting at the junior level.

USA Today via Reuters

‘Borz’ was born and grew up when the entire region was going through a war-like scenario. He witnessed violence and atrocities committed by both sides at a very young age. Little Chimaev lost many relatives and friends in the war, and he had to flee from his home several times. He also faced discrimination and harassment from Russian authorities and civilians. He once said that he hated Russia and wanted to fight for Chechnya’s independence.

Back in 2013, Chimaev left Russia for Sweden with his mother and brother, who needed surgery that was not available in Russia. Since then. The fighter has not returned to Russia and has embraced the Swedish nationality. Chimaev’s childhood was pretty rough. And his migration was like a newly found freedom.

Move to Sweden and Change of Nationality

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Khamzat Chimaev and his family arrived in Sweden in 2013 and settled there in Stockholm. Initially, the family faced a lot of problems due to the new culture and language. However, the support that they got from the local community helped them overcome it. Chimaev learned Swedish and English and enrolled in a high school. Despite all the challenges, he continued wrestling, becoming a three-time Swedish national champion.

Read More: After Disappointing Khamzat Chimaev and Giving Dana White a Dreadful Scare, Paulo Costa Provides a Massive Injury Update

Later, Chimaev joined the Allstars gym in Stockholm, where he got to meet Alexander Gustafsson and other UFC fighters. ’ Borz’ began his UFC training from there and impressed everyone with his fight skills and ethics. He made his professional MMA debut in 2018 and won his first eight fights by knockout or submission. He signed with the UFC in 2020 and became a sensation by winning four fights in a span of four months.

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Chimaev’s family’s decision to migrate to Sweden was one of the best decisions that they took. He proclaimed that he was grateful to Sweden for giving him a new opportunity and a new life. However, his association with Sweden ended this year when he migrated again to the Oasis in the Middle East and the UAE.

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