When life gives you lemons, make lemonade out of it, but what are you going to do when life does not give you anything at all? Khamzat Chimaev suffers from the same problem. The undefeated Chechen fighter wanted to fight but there were hardly any big-time fighters who wanted to lock horns against him. This was one of the main reasons why he was dormant for a year.
There was a notion that Chimaev was away from the Octagon due to personal problems, but the latest statement by the UFC star reveals a dirty side of the fight business. So who is to blame for Chimaev’s slow-paced career? Let us find out.
Khamzat Chimaev blames Dana White for his career stagnating
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Khamzat Chimaev was once considered an unstoppable force but seems like his pace has been stopped, not by any opponent but by the UFC administration. ‘Borz’ recently had a conversation with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. Amidst the conversation, Okamoto questioned him about his lack of pace in his career.
Chimaev said that he is always ready for the fight, but the UFC administration is reluctant to provide any to him. “That’s Dana White man. Ask these guys, when I’m healthy, when I’m in good shape when I train, they never match me. Like one year, I was off. It’s not my problem,” said Chimaev.
He further explained rumors were also the reason for his slow pace. “Somebody said I had some problems, like family. I don’t remember who said that. Somebody said these different things, like visas and all these issues. I never had any problems. I was ready. So, I don’t know what they were waiting for. I missed once in all my career. The wait and the wait.”
Chimaev had been away from the Octagon for one year when he fought Kamaru Usman for his comeback at UFC 294 and won. Now the fighter wants the middleweight title shot that he was promised by Dana White. In a rather bold statement, Chimaev has called out the UFC CEO for the match.
Chimaev calls out Dan White for title promise
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‘Borz’ was promised a title shot by Dana White if he got the win against Usman at UFC 294. However, the Emirati was struck by a wrist injury as well as a skin infection and Dricus Du Plessis got the title shot against Sean Strickland. Fast forwarding to today, Du Plessis is the new middleweight champion of the world and Chimaev has now demanded a title shot.
In the same conversation with Okamoto, Chimaev said, “All these guys fight me, but I’m the only one undefeated and undisputed, 13-0, so I don’t know. They promised me after the Usman fight, ‘You will for sure going to fight for the title,’ and I won that fight. I don’t know what’s going on.”
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He further called out the UFC CEO “I heard Dana White say stuff like, ‘I don’t think Khamzat is next for the title.’ That’s b******* man.” Whether he gets the fight or not is the decision of the UFC admin. However, one thing is for sure and that is Chimaev is not the reason for his slowing pace. What’s your take on ‘Borz’s statements?