When Khamzat Chimaev left Sweden to represent the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after gaining citizenship, many MMA fans and experts wondered about the reason behind the decision.
At yesterday’s UFC 294 media day, the undefeated fighter addressed the topic.
“I moved here because it’s better training. Everything here suits me well. The sun. Not depression and nine months of winter,” Chimaev said. “I love Stockholm. It’s my city and I will go back and forth. I will always appreciate that city.”
The 29-year-old was originally born in Chechnya, Russia but moved to Sweden aged 18. Chimaev would start training at the Allstars gym in Stockholm back in 2017, going on to represent Sweden during his first six UFC fights.
Tomorrow, Khamzat Chimaev will face his toughest test to date as he takes on former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the co-main event at UFC 294. The fight will be Chimaev’s first in his new home country.
Check out the fight card below!
Main card
Lightweight title bout: Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Middleweight bout: Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Light Heavyweight bout: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker
Middleweight bout: Ikram Aliskerov vs. Warlley Alves
Bantamweight bout: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafurov
Preliminary card
Flyweight bout: Tim Elliott vs. Muhammad Mokaev
Lightweight bout: Mohammad Yahya vs. Trevor Peek
Bantamweight bout: Javid Basharat vs. Victor Henry
Middleweight bout: Abu Azaitar vs. Sedriques Dumas
Lightweight bout: Mike Breeden vs. Anshul Jubli
Featherweight bout: Nathaniel Wood vs. Muhammad Naimov
Women’s Strawweight bout: Victoria Dudakova vs. Jinh Yu Frey
Middleweight bout: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Bruno Silva