Khamzat Chimaev does not want problems with Khabib Nurmagomedov. In fact, “Borz” says the whole beef was a misunderstanding in the first place.
Earlier this year, an alleged feud between Chimaev and Khabib began simmering when Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov diminished Nurmagomedov’s accomplishments by calling him “a UFC project” and stating that Chimaev was the superior fighter and Chimaev himself said that he would “smash” Khabib should the two fight. Ever the statesman, Khabib downplayed the criticism and refused to get entangled in feud with Kadyrov and Chimaev and now it seems that Chimaev is walking back his statements.
“Some guy write something about me like, ‘Khabib going to smash you,’ and I answer for this guy, but it was my wrong because I answer to some bullsh*t guy nobody knows,” Chimaev told Frontkick.online. “I answer him if he wants to smash me, I’m going to smash him, too. Because I’m a real man, I’m going to answer like that. If somebody says he’ll smash you, what do you want me to say?
“…Some bullsh*t guy write, you know, and I answered to some bullsh*t guy, but nobody knows him so it’s my wrong because I answered for him. He said ‘Khabib’s gonna smash you’ and this stuff and I said, ‘If he wants smash me’ – in my head, if somebody says this to you, of course I’m gonna answer like ‘Nobody gonna smash me, I’m gonna smash everybody.’ If you’re a real man you have to think like that. If you’re some chicken you can not say it.”
After Chimaev’s initial statements, Nurmagomedov’s cousin Abubakar Nurmagomedov, responded, warning Chimaev to “be careful with your statements” and suggesting he not let fame go to his head. In his statement downplaying the feud, Chimaev says something similar, explaining that he has admiration for Khabib and that he’s still getting used to the fact that he’s famous now.
“This guy I looked up to him in the beginning, and I still look up to him because he became a champ, he’s one of the best fighters in the world,” Chimaev said. “People think I hate him, but I love him because he’s Muslim. I’m Muslim. It’s like the same like he comes from some village like me, same country. Same small republic like Chechnya, Dagestan like this is still the same. I have a lot of brothers from Dagestan, and yeah, he’ Muslim, I’m Muslim, we’re brothers – Alhamdulillah.”
“Sometimes you forget you’re famous, sometimes you forget that. I became famous like one day before and still you wake up sometimes and you don’t know, you think it’s still like normal life to you but you go off to the streets and somebody comes speaks to you.”
Chimaev is expected to make his return to the octagon at UFC 267 on Oct. 30 against welterweight Li Jingliang.
TOP STORIES
Recap. Brady Hiestand punched his ticket to The Ultimate Fighter finale with an early win.
Retirement. Former Strikeforce champ, UFC contender Jacare Souza announces retirement at 41.
Report. Man involved in death of City Kickboxing fighter Fau Vake sentenced to home detention, Dan Hooker reacts.
Reconsider. Gable Steveson undecided on MMA future, but admits ‘who wouldn’t want to be the baddest man on the planet?’
Return. UFC 267 officially announced for Oct. 30 in Abu Dhabi.
VIDEO STEW
What the Heck.
UFC back in Abu Dhabi Promo.
PFL promo.
Top finishes of John Salter’s career.
Most memorable octagon interviews in history.
LISTEN UP
UFC Unfiltered. An interview with Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Unleashed. The panel discusses Cyril Gane, Jose Aldo, PFL, and Bellator.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Conor McGregor on his feet.
Find a way. Make it happen. You can do it! @McGregorFast @tidlsport pic.twitter.com/O00FoqzzD1
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 11, 2021
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome! @McGregorFast @tidlsport pic.twitter.com/YQttlb4uhH
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 11, 2021
Sportsmanship.
Good job Bobby ✊ pic.twitter.com/cBQDcaoSSu
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) August 11, 2021
Shooting his shot.
I mean come on @danawhite @seanshelby how good of a story would that be? I come in off 2 yrs layoff beat Lee short notice, drop back to 155 fix my losing UFC record, and smack Chandler again in a different promotion… let’s get a little weird! https://t.co/Y9AzJveB0p
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) August 11, 2021
Do we have a fight?
Let’s go! https://t.co/6ZOF0D2Iag
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) August 11, 2021
Dan Hooker fights the best fighter he can get his hands on. #facts https://t.co/AW8iPpr08K
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) August 11, 2021
El Chapo escapes from prison again‼️
Mexican authorities have captured him already, but when asked why he chose to escape, he said “I couldn’t miss Kelvin Gastelum’s fight on August 21st!”Link: https://t.co/hOqHt6yJ7N pic.twitter.com/gXej8P1arG
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) August 10, 2021
Guess there weren’t photos of the other 14 minutes and 50 seconds of the fight.
I’ve still got work to do but I’m well on my way. pic.twitter.com/pdSHrFrSFa
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) August 10, 2021
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Brendan Loughnane (21-3) vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (17-0-1); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Chris Wade (19-6) vs. Bubba Jenkins (16-4); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Emiliano Sordi (23-8-1) vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11-5); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Cezar Ferreira (14-9) vs. Margin Hamlet Nielsen (7-2); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Sheymon Moraes (12-5) vs. Lazar Stojadinovic (14-8); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Chris Camozzi (26-15) vs. Cory Hendricks (8-3); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Anthony Dizy (13-4) vs. Jesse Stirn (11-5); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Jason Knight (21-6) vs. Bobby Moffett (13-6); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
Alejandr Flores (19-3) vs. Carl Deaton III (15-4); PFL 2021 #9, Aug. 27.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Gable Steveson could beat up 50% of UFC heavyweights right now.
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.