The 29-year-old Swedish-Russian UFC star, Khamzat Chimaev, has decided to no longer represent Sweden and will now compete for the United Arab Emirates, according to the MMA site Kimura. His manager, Majdi Shammas, confirmed that Chimaev has emigrated and is no longer considered Swedish.
Initially, Chimaev chose to represent Sweden when he transitioned from wrestling to MMA in 2018, despite his Chechen background. Throughout his UFC career, he has achieved an impressive record of twelve wins and zero losses.
Chimaev’s upcoming fight against Paulo Costa at UFC 294 in October will take place in the United Arab Emirates, coinciding with his decision to represent the country.
Kimura reports that the UFC allows fighters to compete for any country, regardless of their nationality.
Born in Chechnya, Russia Chimaev moved to Sweden at the age of 18.
Recently, Chimaev faced criticism for his association with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been referred to as “Putin’s lapdog. In response to the criticism, Chimaev defended his relationship with Kadyrov, stating that he is the president of his country and deserves respect, much like the king of Sweden.
