Khamzat Chimaev Unable to Leave Russia as Passport Is Seized! (Updated)

Published 10/04/2022, 11:59 AM EDT

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.

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.

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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.

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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Written by:

Deepak Kumar is a UFC author at EssentiallySports. His love for MMA comes from the chaos and violence the fight business brings to the table. A BJJ aspirant, Deepak began following the sport as a casual fan when Ronda Rousey was finishing her opponents in seconds.

Khamzat Chimaev Unable to Leave Russia as Passport Is Seized! (Updated)

Team Khamzat Chimaev gave an update

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