Only a few days away from his UFC title win in Chicago, Khamzat Chimaev has returned with his golden band.
On Saturday evening, the UFC returned to Chicago for UFC 319 for the first time in more than six years, at the head a middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev proved different doubters wrong when he dominated Du Plessis in five rounds and showed off his championship cardio to become the new middleweight champion.
And with his victory, 'Borz' made the history of UFC and was the first born by Chechen Jager who won a UFC title, for which he was congratulated by Conor McGregor.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
Chimaev receives the welcome from a hero while he returns home with his UFC title
Although he was born in the Chechen Republic, Chimaev emigrated to Sweden when he was 18 years old when he found MMA in the Allstars Gym in Sweden.
Since it gets older, 'Borz' now lives in the United Arab Emirates and he represents the VAE when he fights in the UFC, and even draped himself in the VAE flag after his victory on Saturday.
“I moved to a Muslim country, I felt more comfortable, I fought there before, they always give me great support,” Chimaev said about his ties with the VAE at the press conference after the fight.
And now only a few days away from his incredible achievement in the Windy City, Chimaev has returned to the VAE and has received the welcome of a hero after presenting the fans with his UFC title.
Chimaev is planning to make the first title defense in Abu Dhabi
For a few years, the UFC career of the 31-year-old was somewhat on hold when he had trouble reaching a visa to fight in the United States.
And although he now has no problems acquiring a visa to fight in America, Chimaev explained why he is not very interested in fighting in the United States.
After the main event on Saturday, UFC boss Dana White stated that he is interested in adding Chimaev to the upcoming UFC 321 card in Abu Dhabi, after Chimaev stated that he would like to defend his belt for his home crowd.