Khamzat Chimaev did NOT miss weight due to lack of Muslim team-mates, insists Reza Madadi
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Khamzat Chimaev did NOT miss any weight due to ‘lack of Muslim teammates’ as Khabib Nurmagomedov bizarrely claimed, Reza Madadi emphasizes… with cornerman pointing out the UFC legend’s own problems are lessening
- Khabib Nurmagomedov said Khamzat Chimaev needs more Muslims around him
- Chimaev missed weight at UFC 279, leading Khabib to highlight the issue
- He suggested ‘Borz’ needs discipline, he says, comes with Muslim teammates
- But Reza Madadi, one of the teammates, hit back to argue why he was wrong
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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s bizarre judgment that Khamzat Chimaev needs more Muslim teammates is wrong, says Reza Madadi.
Madadi, a fellow Muslim, works closely with Chimaev and is ideally placed to comment on the former lightweight champion’s comments.
Chimaev has worked closely with Darren Till, and many interpreted Khabib’s criticisms as a thinly veiled dig at the British star.
Reza Madadi (left) stood up for Khamzat Chimaev after criticism from Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov suggested that Chimaev was missing weight due to lack of Muslims with him
At a charity event for Pakistan, Khabib said: ‘If you are a Muslim, you should have good people around you.
“Muslims who can say, ‘Hey, don’t do this.’ I recently saw the weigh-in of Khamzat Chimaev. I followed what happened to his weight and watched his team.
“There are no Muslims around him and this is very bad. Because if you’re a Muslim, you need good, strong people around you who say, “Come back, do this.”
Nurmagomedov added: ‘When you get famous and rich, when you get power and there are no people giving advice or you don’t listen to them, then something will happen.
“You need good people, even if you don’t like them, you need them.”
Chimaev didn’t seem bothered by it after he messed up UFC 279
But Madadi, who used to fight in the UFC as a lightweight and cornered Chimaev as part of his squad, has felt the need to respectfully tell Khabib why he’s wrong.
In an Instagram post, he wrote: “Dear Khabib, my Muslim brother. First, I would like to say that I have tremendous respect for you as an athlete and for all your achievements in our beloved sport MMA. I am also very proud of how you represent our religion, our faith and God in all your interviews and appearances.
“But I would like to give my point about your opinion about the lack of a Muslim team around him and that would be the reason why he missed the weight. I have to disagree with you on this point.
“Not only has Khamzat been around Muslim friends and teammates like me from day one, but also from many other religions and backgrounds. There are people who have been with him from the beginning, giving him love, sharing blood, sweat and joy and doing everything they can to get him where he is today.
‘Being Muslim does not mean that we are perfect and flawless, believe me, I have made many mistakes in my life, as many people know.
Chimaev celebrates with teammates after his win over Kevin Holland
“With all due respect, you too. So when you say you have a Muslim team you are perfect, I disagree, having a team that cares about you. In good and bad times it is much more important what faith or religion they have. And that’s something Khamzat has.
“There are several issues that caused Khamzat to miss the weight, but those reasons remain in the team. But he is still young and he will learn from his mistakes.
“If a great champion like you learned from your mistake when you lost weight, then I have no doubt our brother Khamzat will too.”
The jury is still out on whether Chimaev will be allowed to compete again in the welterweight after missing the target by more than seven pounds at UFC 279, causing the card to go haywire.
Fortunately, the UFC rushed to save the event and Chimaev dismantled Kevin Holland in one round.