Khamzat Chimaev is no stranger to making headlines. On October 26 at the Etihad Arena, Chimaev will be stepping into the cage after a year-long hiatus where he’s been dealing with multiple complications including a severe illness. In fact, it was due to his health issues that his fight against Robert Whittaker was moved to UFC 308 as it was previously scheduled for UFC on ABC 6 in June.

But ahead of his highly anticipated return, one rumor seems to have been following him like a shadow, the idea that the Chechen fighter can’t compete in the U.S. due to visa issues. Well, in a recent interview, UFC boss Dana White shut down the talks surrounding ‘Borz’ and the travel issues with an emphatic statement!

Dana White clears the air on Khamzat Chimaev’s visa issues ahead of UFC 308  

Where did the conversations about Khamzat Chimaev and his visa issues start? For that, we’ll have to backtrack for a second. Chimaev hasn’t fought in the U.S. since 2022 when he took on Kevin Holland at UFC 279, fueling speculation that something might be keeping him out. The reason? Many reports indicated that it may be due to his alleged ties to controversial Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Now, during the recent Power Slap 9 post-event press conference, UFC boss Dana White was asked by a reporter suggesting that if Donald Trump were to regain office, “he can finally solve the visa problems with Khamzat.” But in his trademark fashion, White responded by stating, “He hasn’t had any real bad visa problems. Khamzat… we’ve had Khamzat in the states.” In fact, ‘Borz’ has fought at UFC 273 in Florida and UFC Vegas 11 in Las Vegas in the past.

As such, in a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Chimaev fired back at the rumor mill by stating, “I’ve been in the U.S., and can come to the U.S. But, a lot of s— things have happened in my life. Being sick, having surgeries, so that’s why I’ve (not) been fighting (there) like before.”

When asked why he’s recently been fighting more often in places like Abu Dhabi, Chimaev made it clear that convenience played a big part. “Abu Dhabi being close to me, I’ll fight here,” he explained. But he quickly added that this doesn’t mean he’s confined to the Middle East. In fact, Chimaev highlighted his international fight experience by stating, “I’ve been in England, I’ve been in the U.K., the U.S., I’m going to go to Australia soon in December. I can be anywhere”

So it seems that for now, the visa rumor seems to have been put to rest. But ahead of UFC 308, Khamzat Chimaev also opened up about some issues in his personal life showing a glimpse of a rarely seen side of the man known as ‘Borz’!

Chimaev pulls back the curtain on fatherhood and his son’s health issues  

Khamzat Chimaev is a name that sends chills down the spines of his opponents. But behind the terrifying warrior, there’s a man fighting a very different battle—a battle that doesn’t take place inside the Octagon. As Chimaev prepares for his biggest fight yet at UFC 308 against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, he’s also facing a personal struggle far away from the cage.

During a recent interview with Brett Okamoto, ‘Borz’ confessed, “I going back to Sweden (after UFC 308). My son has one surgery, has second one but everything’s good… One more after the fight, so after that my son will be healthy so yeah…”

What’s the medical issue? Chimaev explained that his son has a problem with his kidney although he struggled to explain it properly due to the difficulty of talking in English, which is not his first language. But when asked how fatherhood feels, Chimaev’s response was humble and honest, “It’s difficult, so I don’t know, so it’s fun yeah…” These seemingly simple words carried the weight of a man who is juggling the immense responsibility of being a father while preparing for the biggest fight of his career.

It’s a reminder that even the fiercest warriors are human, dealing with struggles that can’t be solved with punches or submissions. While rumors of visa issues may have followed Chimaev, they seem to be a thing of the past. Now, the focus is back on what matters, his return to the UFC and his fight not only as an athlete but also as a father. How will Khamzat Chimaev fare against ‘The Reaper’ with so much on his shoulders at UFC 308? Will this be the fuel that drives him to new heights? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!