In a surprising turn of events following UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev was spotted celebrating what appeared to be a major victory alongside the very team members he allegedly dismissed just months earlier over a cryptocurrency scandal that rocked the MMA world.
The most notable figure in Chimaev’s celebration was his longtime manager Majdi Shammas. He was reportedly among those ‘fired’ after the controversial ‘Smash’ token promotion went disastrously wrong.
The cryptocurrency, which borrowed Chimaev’s signature catchphrase, crashed by over 90% shortly after he promoted it on social media. It led to widespread accusations of a coordinated pump-and-dump scheme.
Blockchain analyst Zack XBT had revealed evidence suggesting an orchestrated effort to artificially inflate the token’s value before massive sell-offs occurred. While Shammas previously claimed they “were approached by fans and were unaware of any wrongdoing,” skeptics questioned how the team could remain naive about a project that derived its entire value from Chimaev’s brand recognition.
The crypto controversy had far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate scandal. Chimaev’s involvement with “Gcoin,” an Islamic-compliant cryptocurrency project where he served as the sole ambassador, suffered immediate fallout. The company removed Chimaev from their website and postponed their planned exchange listing following the “Smash” debacle.
Despite the apparent reconciliation with his team, Chimaev’s celebration took an unexpected diplomatic turn when he placed a call to one of Ramzan Kadyrov’s sons during the festivities. This connection to the Chechen leader’s family continues a pattern that has defined much of Chimaev’s controversial public persona.
Kadyrov’s son even posted Chimaev’s walkout before the match. The relationship with Kadyrov has been a persistent source of criticism throughout his UFC career.
In December 2023, Chimaev publicly praised the Chechen leader, writing: “This man helped me return to life, not only for me and the entire Chechen people. I would like to thank him for everything he has done and is doing for us and our people.”
This allegiance has come at a significant cost. Many observers believe Chimaev’s connections to Kadyrov have contributed to his visa difficulties in the United States, effectively limiting his career opportunities.
The celebration footage also showed Chimaev wearing a camouflage-style hoodie reminiscent of Kadyrov’s typical attire.
As one pointed Instagram comment noted: “Chimaev showing every day why he can’t get a visa and likely won’t be able to fight in the US again.”
The visa situation has forced Chimaev to relocate his base to the United Arab Emirates, where he obtained a 10-year visa and began pursuing UAE citizenship to facilitate international travel. His jiu-jitsu coach Alan Nascimento previously explained the broader impact on athletes from the region: “Many Russian athletes are suffering with that. Chechens, Dagestani, Russians in general.”
Nascimento had expressed frustration with the situation, arguing that “athletes, people that have never committed any crimes and are just trying to live life in a positive manner and serve as example for the next generations, to pay the price and be unable to work because of problems caused by other people” was fundamentally unfair.
The reunion with his previously “dismissed” manager Shammas raises questions about the true nature of their separation following the crypto scandal. Whether the firing was genuine or merely a public relations move to distance himself from the controversy, the current celebrations suggest that professional relationships have been restored, at least temporarily.
