(Video) Khamzat Chimaev Plays Peacemaker As Fighters Throw Punches at Face-Off

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev acts as a peacemaker following a brutal altercation at a fighting promotion in Oman. 

(Video) Khamzat Chimaev Plays Peacemaker As Fighters Throw Punches at Face-Off

Khamzat Chimaev stops fighting (via X)

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It’s been a few months since Khamzat Chimaev became the new middleweight champion after defeating Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. It was a dominant showdown of Chimaev’s wrestling prowess as he controlled DDP for five rounds throughout the championship fight. Since then, the fighter hasn’t talked about his next fight, but has certainly been busy with other endeavors and public appearances.

Recently, Khamzat Chimaev found himself being the peacemaker following an altercation at a fighting event. The incident unfolded during a heated face-off at a Fitbox Fighting Championship press event in Muscat, Oman, ahead of FFC 5. Tensions rose quickly as two opposing fighters exchanged aggressive words and briefly threw punches before security intervened immediately.

The situation threatened to spiral out of control, drawing loud reactions from fans, officials, and other fighters present on stage. Khamzat Chimaev, attending the event to support his teammate, unexpectedly stepped forward instead of escalating the chaos further. Known for his ferocious persona inside the cage, the Chechen fighter adopted a calmer role, positioning himself between the fighters.

Videos captured Chimaev gesturing firmly, appearing to warn both men to stop and focus on the upcoming fight. His intervention helped create space as security personnel regained control and separated the fighters more effectively. Videos circulating online showed the UFC middleweight champion speaking intensely but without physical aggression to reinforce his peacemaker role.

The fighters were eventually escorted off stage, preventing further violence and allowing the press event to continue. Fans reacted with surprise, given Chimaev’s history of intense confrontations and outspoken behavior at public MMA events. This moment highlighted a different side of Chimaev, emphasizing leadership and responsibility. 

No official disciplinary actions were announced immediately, though promoters acknowledged the seriousness of the incident publicly. The face-off drama added extra intrigue to the bout, increasing fan interest and media attention ahead of fight night. 

Dricus Du Plessis’s coach is confident about beating Khamzat Chimaev in a rematch

At UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus Du Plessis and controlled him for over 21 minutes with suffocating wrestling pressure throughout the fight. Although DDP had his moments, it was never enough to establish a sustained offense or threaten Chimaev consistently.

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis (via X)

Following the fight, many accused Chimaev of being boring, avoiding risks, and failing to aggressively pursue finishes. However, others praised the champion for his unmatched dominance, discipline, and ability to completely neutralize elite opponents across five rounds.

DDP’s coach previously blamed the referee for not intervening more, allowing extended wrestling exchanges throughout the contest between both fighters. In a recent interview, Morne Visser discussed potential coaching adjustments ahead of a possible rematch with Chimaev in the future.

We made small, small mistakes that cost us dearly every minute of every round in that fight. We’ve never been prepared to fight a guy who’s not willing to fight. If we knew he was gonna try to just do that, I would have changed Dricus’s base. No punches, no kicks, just flipping wrestle the guy. Zero. He’s got zero chance with Dricus in the clinch. His only chance is to keep us on the floor. So that’s the only thing we need to fix. 

Morne Visser via Fight Forecast 

However, many fans slammed Visser for making excuses instead of focusing on improving his fighter’s overall preparation and technical development. Previously, experts like Joe Rogan stated that the South African would likely never match Chimaev’s elite wrestling pedigree.

On top of that, Chimaev is currently being targeted by contenders such as Nassourdine Imavov for a potential title clash. The undefeated champion has also shown interest in moving up divisions and testing himself against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira next as well. At the moment, title defense against Imavov is looking more likely than a bout against ‘Poatan.’

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