“They Arrested Me”- Khamzat Chimaev’s Story to Attack Conor McGregor Resurfaces as UFC Fans Left in Disbelief

Khamzat Chimaev isn’t one to let things go, and in 2018, he was prepared to take matters into his own hands. Conor McGregor used unrelenting trash talk to build up his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he also targeted Chechens, notably Khabib’s teammate Zubaira Tukhugov and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. One post in particular sparked outrage: ‘The Notorious’ shared a video of himself dropping Chechen BJJ black belt Ayub Magomadov during sparring, followed by a photo of them together. According to Magomadov, neither was intended to be made public. However, that was enough for Chimaev. Without hesitation, he booked a journey to Ireland with a specific goal in mind. So, what was the goal? To beat Conor McGregor to a pulp.

However, things didn’t go as planned. When he landed, Irish authorities stopped him at the airport. “They didn’t let me in. They arrested me and sent me back home,” Chimaey said in an interview with the Azamat Chef YouTube channel. At the time, his English was poor, and he struggled to comprehend what was going on. He was transported to a police station, detained for nearly nine hours without food, and then flown back to Sweden. In a different interview from 2020, he stated that he spent the time in his cell doing push-ups and squats while waiting for his fate to be decided.

‘Borz’ quickly denied that he had flown to Ireland to assist the Irishman in his training to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov. “I wanted to smash him,” he said bluntly. “It wasn’t just about Khabib—it was about our pride, our dignity. For all of us.” For Khamzat Chimaev, this wasn’t just a rivalry; he felt Conor McGregor had crossed a boundary by disrespecting his people. If he had made it past the airport, he made it clear that things would have escalated quickly and definitely for the worse.

Even years later, Khamzat Chimaev recalls what may have happened without hesitation. When asked how he would have responded if he had actually made it to McGregor, he replied, “If I didn’t manage to hit him, I would’ve thrown something at him.” Thankfully for ‘The Notorious,’ the situation ended before it could begin, but it is still one of the many bizarre moments associated with the McGregor-Khabib rivalry. And, while Chimaev never had his chance back then, his statements indicate that he would be willing to settle things in the future. But for now, all we know is that McGregor surely survived some possible serious harm and that fans loved this little stunt pulled off by the Chechen.

Fans root for Khamzat Chimaev’s desire to hunt down Conor McGregor

Khamzat Chimaev’s crazy story of coming to Ireland simply to get his hands on Conor McGregor had fans excited. The thought of a young, hungry Khamzat storming into McGregor’s gym for a street-style beatdown seemed like something out of a movie, and many people were quick to express their enthusiasm. While ‘The Notorious’ avoided the confrontation, Chimaev’s willingness to risk everything for a matter of pride further added to his aura. For some, this earned him the highest form of respect. “My love for Khamzat after this 📈📈,” one fan said. Another added, “For this, you are forever my GOAT 😂😂😂.  Kept it low despite the gravity of his intentions 🔥.” Others thought the scenario was hysterical, commenting, “Gotta respect Chimaev for this one 😂.” Many people believed Chimaev’s acts demonstrated his warrior mentality, even though he never had the opportunity to carry them out.

Then there were many who claimed ‘Borz’ would have completely destroyed McGregor if the fight had actually occurred. “Khamzat would’ve k*lled Conor McGregor within 3 minutes—more brutal than Robert Whittaker,” one fan claimed. Another remarked, “Lucky Conor 😂.” Some even credited the Irish government with unwittingly rescuing their national icon. “Conor should be thankful to his government that they stopped Khamzat 😅.”

Of course, McGregor’s devoted fans were not having it. “Connor would’ve destroyed Camshot,” one fan said, using a nickname intended to insult Chimaev. Another fan added, “As if he would’ve even survived the assault against McGregor lol.” Some even said that, while Chimaev may have an advantage today, things would have been different back then. “Conor would have defeated Chimaev back then. Today is a very different case.” The dispute over what could have happened will never be settled, but one thing is certain: Chimaev’s daring move just added to his mystique, and fans devoured every second of it. What do you think? Who would’ve won the street fight? Let us know in the comments.