Even before stepping into the octagon at UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev was already generating headlines far removed from the sport. According to reports from the Chechen dissident group NIYSO, the athlete recently took on a second wife in Chechnya, this time a 17-year-old girl who was reportedly forced into the marriage.
The details outlined by the dissident organization are deeply troubling. “According to sources, on January 11th, a wedding ceremony took place in the village of Elin-Yurt, during which a local woman was given to Chimaev as a wife,” the group stated.
But the circumstances surrounding the union go well beyond a simple ceremony. “However, a few days before the celebration, the girl was kidnapped by Chimaev’s friends, as she had caught the athlete’s eye.”
If accurate, the sequence of events suggests a deliberate effort to shield the arrangement from public view. According to the NIYSO account, Chimaev did not deal with the situation alone.
“The court gladiator immediately rushed to Kadyrov’s residence to seek advice from his padishah [Chechen for ‘king’].” The reported response from the Chechen leader was clear and direct: “In response, he instructed him to hold a wedding ceremony, but as secretly as possible.”
The alleged marriage carries serious legal weight. Polygamy is not recognized under Russian federal law, and the reported age of the bride adds to legal and ethical concern.
“Despite reportedly kidnapping and marrying an underage woman, which is also illegal across the Russian Federation,” the union appears to have gone forward with few consequences for those involved.
The controversy remained largely beneath the surface as Chimaev prepared for what many considered the defining contest of his career, a middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on Saturday night.
The bout proved to be a grueling five-round test of will. Chimaev set the tone early with relentless grappling pressure, repeatedly dragging Strickland to the canvas and threatening with back control through much of the opening round.
Strickland, never one to fold under pressure, leaned into his jab and clawed his way back into the contest round by round.
As the championship rounds wore on, Chimaev picked up steam with body work and takedowns, while Strickland continued to pepper him with counters and right hands. The final 35 seconds became a pure test of heart, with both men trading heavy strikes all the way to the final horn.
When the scorecards were read, the judges handed Strickland the split decision, 48-47, 48-47, and 47-48, making him a two-time UFC middleweight champion.
