Khamzat Chimaev Regrets His Fierce Challenge To UFC Legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Admits He Made A Huge Mistake
In 2021, Khamzat Chimaev found himself embroiled in a heated controversy after making some bold and regrettable comments about retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The situation unfolded during an Instagram live stream, where Chechen politician Ramzan Kadyrov was criticizing Khabib. Chimaev, caught up in the moment, impulsively stepped in with a challenge, prompting an immediate backlash.
Recently, Chimaev spoke out about the incident and reflected on how youthful impulsiveness and social media drama led him astray. In a candid interview, Chimaev admitted that he had made a mistake and expressed regret for his comments.
“I don’t feel good when I’m compared to someone else,” Chimaev explained. “Someone said Khabib would crush me, and I got angry. I responded by saying, ‘If Khabib wants to crush me, I’m ready to crush him.’ I shouldn’t have said it, but the media blew it out of proportion.” His admission of guilt demonstrates maturity and growth, especially in the tough, macho world of MMA, where it’s rare for fighters to openly admit their mistakes.
Chimaev stressed that he has immense respect for Khabib and would never want to fight him, even if the retired champion returned to the Octagon. Khabib, as usual, handled the situation with grace, choosing not to get involved in the drama and instead take the high road.
This incident highlights that even elite MMA fighters can get caught up in social media mistakes, reminding us that beneath their intimidating exteriors, they are often still young athletes dealing with the pressures of fame and competition.
Meanwhile, undefeated middleweight fighter Sharaputdin “Bullet” Magomedov has set his sights on the dominant Chimaev, which has led to even more drama in the division. During a recent pre-fight press conference between Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen, Magomedov dropped a bombshell by talking about a potential matchup against Chimaev.
When asked about how he would handle Chimaev’s famous wrestling and takedowns, Magomedov did not hold back. “Even if he takes me down, it’s not a big deal. My elbows will do the job as they always have. I’m ready to defend takedowns, but even if I end up on my back, I’ll attack from there,” he said confidently.
Magomedov’s bold statement has sent shockwaves through the middleweight division, as many acknowledge that Khamzat’s ground game is one of the toughest to overcome in the UFC. Despite not being known for his wrestling ability, Magomedov is eager to prove himself in a showdown with “Borz.” As both fighters compete in the same division, it is only a matter of time before they meet in the Octagon, which will set the stage for an explosive and highly-anticipated showdown.
Fans are wondering: Will Chimaev respond to this new challenge or will Magomedov’s bold words fuel the next big fight in the UFC middleweight division?
