Why Khamzat Chimaev can’t enter United States to claim title shot after win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294?
Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev has difficulty traveling freely and cannot enter the US at the moment. Find out the reason for this difficulty.
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Khamzat Chimaev cannot freely enter the US (via Instagram/The Pioneer Woman)
Khamzat Chimaev won an important fight at UFC 294. He defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the middleweight division. Ahead of their match-up, Dana White stated that the winner would receive the next title shot. In all likelihood, it looks like Chimaev will challenge Sean Strickland at some point in 2024. However, Khamzat Chimaev cannot enter the US to receive the title shot.
Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 to become the middleweight champion. He will likely defend his title in the first quarter of 2024. However, if he defends it against Khamzat Chimaev, he will likely defend it outside of the United States. Find out the reason for such a scenario:
Related: Tyson Fury and Daniel Kinahan: Why is the ‘Gypsy King’ banned from visiting the US?
Why Khamzat Chimaev cannot enter the US?
Khamzat Chimaev cannot enter the US for two reasons. First, he holds a Russian passport and cannot travel freely due to the situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Secondly, “Borz” has a close relationship with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The US Government has heavy sanctions on Kadyrov due to his international war crimes.
Chimaev’s coach, Alan Nascimento, told MMA Fighting:
With this situation going on, the war, it’s hard for anyone to travel around the world with a Russian passport. Especially for a Chechen. I won’t go into details, but anyone who knows the story and is following what’s going on in the world knows that everybody is trying to corner Russia with sanctions. He’s living that.Alan Nascimento about Khamzat Chimaev’s travel restrictions
If things does not get sorted, Chimaev will have to fight for the title outside of the US. As of now, the UFC have yet to reveal their schedule for 2024.
What is the solution for Khamzat Chimaev to enter the US?
His relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov will prove difficult for him to enter the US. However, recently, he emigrated to the UAE. He has become a citizen of the UAE. Chimaev’s camp hopes the UAE passport would help him ease the travel restrictions and return to the US.
The US government will end up deciding on whether Khamzat Chimaev could enter the US. The UAE passport could help. However, Chimaev’s relationship with Kadyrov could act as a stumbling block. At UFC 294, Kadyrov’s sons recently attended the event to support Chimaev. The US State Department usually looks into these details before making a decision. The only hurdle at the moment remains Chimaev’s relationship with Kadyrov.
FAQs
Yes. His relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov has made the US State Department disallowing him from entering the country.
Yes. Chimaev recently became a UAE citizen.
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Nidhin Shibu
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