Khamzat Chimaev, the UFC middleweight champion, has fired back at former bantamweight champion Petr Yan after the Russian MMA star questioned whether Chimaev should be considered a Russian competitor. In an interview on the Badaev Podcast, Chimaev didn’t hold back his frustration over Yan’s comments, delivering a pointed response that has sparked debate in the MMA community.
“Chinese, how can you say that Chechens are not Russians?”
Chimaev said, referencing Yan’s surname. The champion expressed genuine offense at the suggestion, particularly coming from someone he knows personally.
“I know a guy named Petr Yan, and he knows me. I am a Russian speaker. I live at the same training base,”
Chimaev explained, highlighting their shared connections within the Russian combat sports community.
What particularly frustrated Chimaev was the apparent hypocrisy in Yan’s position.
“Even if we take everything into account, Yan became a UFC champion before me and started earning money there. I built a gym in Russia, made roads in Russia, I help young people in Russia. I haven’t built a gym for anyone in the Emirates, I don’t help anyone,”
the middleweight champion stated, listing his concrete contributions to his homeland.
Chimaev’s argument centers on his deep roots and ongoing commitment to Russia and Chechnya. Born and raised in the region before moving to Sweden, he has consistently given back to his community. He recently opened a state-of-the-art training facility in his home village, providing opportunities for young athletes that he himself never had growing up.
“I’m glad that there is an opportunity for other young guys, there is an opportunity to train. Well, they now have the opportunity that I didn’t have,”
he said about the gym project.
The champion also pointed out the absurdity of questioning his nationality based on ethnicity.
“If people consider Chechnya to be Russian, then I am Russian,”
he stated plainly. Chimaev emphasized that he represents Russia in competition, speaks Russian, and lives and trains in Russia—all factors that should be indisputable in determining his national identity as an MMA star.
Beyond the personal offense, Chimaev expressed concern about the broader implications of such divisive rhetoric.
“Now a lot of guys are trying to divide us,”
he observed, noting troubling trends of ethnic tension.
“Well, in Soviet times we were all brothers and our fathers fought together against the fascists. And now people are trying to make some kind of guys fascists, some guys, to turn against each other.”
The UFC champion called for unity rather than division.
“I think at this moment we need to get together and be together. I have Russian friends, Georgians, yes, I have friends of all nationalities,”
Chimaev said, emphasizing his inclusive approach to relationships across ethnic and national lines.
Chimaev’s response reflects his frustration with what he sees as attempts to delegitimize his identity and contributions. Despite earning millions in the UAE and having opportunities elsewhere, he has consistently invested in Russia and Chechnya.
