In a peculiar turn of events, UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has attempted to distance himself from a cryptocurrency controversy by posting a video of a developer in a Louis Vuitton hoodie explaining the situation.
The controversy began when Chimaev promoted SMASH, a Solana-based meme-coin, on his social media accounts. On-chain investigator ZachXBT quickly called out the project, revealing that up to 78% of the token supply was bought by insiders and developer-related wallets, suggesting a potential pump-and-dump scheme.
As the situation unfolded, Chimaev’s manager, Majdi Shammas, claimed ignorance, stating that he had merely agreed to a promotional video request from supposed fans. However, ZachXBT was quick to dismiss these excuses.
In an apparent attempt to clear the air, Chimaev posted a video on his own account featuring a developer associated with the SMASH token. The developer, sporting a Louis Vuitton hoodie, explained that Chimaev had no direct involvement with the token and that they had only been in contact with his manager.
The developer admitted to sniping 80% of the supply but denied causing the token’s major downfall. He insisted that everything was public and trackable, claiming “there is no scam that has been happening.”
Despite these assurances, the community remains skeptical. The incident has raised questions about the viability of Chimaev’s MMA career.
As of now, Chimaev himself has not directly commented on the situation, though all promotional material related to SMASH has been removed from his social media accounts.
