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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – APRIL 09: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia reacts after defeating Gilbert Burns of Brazil in the welterweight bout during the UFC 273 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 09, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
via Getty
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – APRIL 09: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia reacts after defeating Gilbert Burns of Brazil in the welterweight bout during the UFC 273 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 09, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
UFC welterweight & middleweight sensation Khamzat ‘The Wolf’ Chimaev is facing some issues with his passport suggest reports. The Russia-born athlete has been a force to reckon with inside the Octagon. However, some of his fights prior have been delayed because of his issues with getting a visa to fight in the United States.
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This time around the Chechen athlete missed a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend, Fernando Terere-based film (“O Belta Preta – A Verdadeira História de Fernando Tererê”) premiere in Rio de Janeiro. This was because he could not leave his birth country due to the Russia-Ukraine issues a report from Brazilian media house Combate suggested.
Read More – Why Did Dana White Have to Convince Khamzat Chimaev to Not Retire?
Chimaev was born in Chechnya; He was raised in Sweden. Thus, his team tried to reach the government of Sweden to get back their athlete.
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – APRIL 9: Khamzat Chimaev celebrates his victory over Gilbert Burns in their Welterweight fight during the UFC 273 event at on April 9, 2022, at Vystar Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Russia-based athlete is undefeated in his martial arts career inside the premier MMA organization. In addition, he has been fighting in two of the most stacked UFC divisions presently. And with the way he has been tearing apart the competition inside the Octagon, he is only one fight away from fighting for the UFC gold in any of these two divisions.
UFC President Dana White has been highly appreciative of the Swedish fighter in the past. The UFC supremo even brought him back from retirement earlier in 2020. Thus, perhaps the $500 million-worth veteran promoter can do something about this matter as well.
Team Khamzat Chimaev gave an update
Update: After the report of Chimaev being stuck in Russia came out, ESPN MMA reporter Brett Okamoto talked to Chimaev’s team.
I just spoke to Khamzat Chimaev's (@KChimaev) manager Majdi Shammas, who told me reports of Khamzat being stuck in Russia with a revoked passport are not true. Khamzat is in Russia, but there are 'no problems' with any travel restrictions according to Shammas.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 4, 2022
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Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) tells me he is visiting family in Russia and will return to Sweden in two weeks. “Start training camp, fight somebody, find somebody, smash somebody, make money.”
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 4, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev’s team dismissed the initial report. Subsequently, the UFC fighter’s manager Majdi Shammas informed that ‘Borz’ would return to Sweden in two weeks.
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What do you make of this situation about Khamzat Chimaev’s passport being seized in Russia? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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