As we approach UFC 319, one question dominates MMA minds over all others: Khamzat Chimaev or Dricus Du Plessis? Who walks away with the middleweight title at UFC 319? But for Chimaev fans, another question keeps following him into the cage: what flag will he be sporting in his walkout?
Born in Chechnya, raised partly in Sweden, and now training under the UAE banner. But citizenship? That’s a different story. As such, let’s trace the path ‘Borz’ has followed in his journey to becoming a superstar under the bright lights of the Octagon!
What is Khamzat Chimaev’s nationality?
Khamzat Chimaev was born on May 1, 1994, into a Chechen family in the village of Gvardeyskoye, which was part of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. However, after the war, it became the undisputed territory of Russia’s Chechnya. ‘Borz’ represented the Russian flag when he was a kid; however, in 2013, the entire family decided that it would be safer for them to leave Chechnya and settle in Sweden.
Chimaev represented Sweden for many years in national and international events but before his bout against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, ‘Borz’ emigrated from the European nation to settle back in the glamorous deserts of UAE. The news was initially revealed by his manager, Majdi Shammas, to Swedish outlet SVT Sport: “He has emigrated, he is no longer Swedish.”
Despite the years in Sweden, Khamzat Chimaev has often said in interviews that he’ll always be Russian. In fact, he’s already decided where he’ll live after retirement, back in his homeland. But what prompted him and his family to make the move to Sweden in the first place?
Why did Khamzat Chimaev leave Russia?
Every departure has a reason. For Chimaev, it was family and survival. In a previous interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, he explained how his older brother, already in Sweden, had urged the family to join him.
According to ‘Borz’, “My brother was doing [work] he and he told us, come here it’s good for us and our one brother Tahir, he has like surgery as well so, that [would help him] like when we come directly here. After that we stay[ed] here, we like[ed] it and they helped us a lot as well.”
At first, he didn’t want to leave. His friends were back home. The language and culture in Sweden were foreign. The adjustment wasn’t easy. The family reportedly even lived in a cramped two-room apartment when they first arrived.
But over time, Sweden became a place of opportunity, though never truly “home” in his eyes. That’s why the next question matters even more.
Does Khamzat Chimaev hold Swedish citizenship?
The short answer? No. In Chimaev’s own words, “Russia is my motherland, and I represent the UAE. They always help me when I have fights. I’ve never had a Swedish passport, people thought I had a Swedish passport, and I just left. I had residency there. I never had a passport there. People say I abandoned Sweden, I didn’t.”
Khamzat Chimaev might be representing UAE for now but the legal side of things is a bit complicated. Reports suggest that the fighter still holds a Russian passport and is considered a Russian citizen. This caused him immense problems when his passport was confiscated in St. Petersburg back in 2022. This is one of the primary reasons why the Russian suddenly changed his nationality to the UAE.
April 9, 2022, Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States: JACKSONVILLE, FL – APRIL 9: Khamzat Chimaev celebrates his victory over Gilbert Burns in their Welterweight fight during the UFC 273 event at Vystar Memorial Arena on April 9, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Jacksonville, Florida United States – ZUMAp175 20220409_zsa_p175_152 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
Regardless, is Chimaev an Arab citizen now? According to the fighter himself, he is only here for a decade or so, “No, I just got a residence permit. For 10 years or so, which can be prolonged for another 10 years. I don’t want to change my Russian citizenship to any other. I could have stayed in Sweden and got their citizenship. My family has got it but I am cool with my Russian citizenship.” said Chimaev in a conversation with Hustle Vlog and Adam Zubayraev.
He further added, “I can travel anywhere, I have been all around Europe, been to England, been to the US, and it’s all good. Of course, Russia is half of the world. I love the Caucasus, and I’ve always said that I am going to live in the Caucasus after I quit the sport. I am the son of the Caucasus and it is my home”
For him, the UAE is a base, a place to prepare for war in the Octagon. Russia is still the heart, and Sweden, too, is part of the story. And Chechnya? That’s where the roots run deepest.
The post Why Does Khamzat Chimaev Represent UAE? Flag, Escape From Chechnya, and Citizenship Details appeared first on EssentiallySports.
