Nate Diaz's representative claps back at Khamzat Chimaev’s "fun fiction" claims concerning Ramzan Kadyrov offer
Back in September 2022, at UFC 279 Khamzat Chimaev was supposed to meet Nate Diaz in the main event. However, the card turned on its head when 'Borz' missed weight by 7.5 pounds, causing the whole card to be reshuffled. Chimaev ended up facing Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout in the co-main event while Diaz faced Tony Ferguson in the main event.
According to Khamzat Chimaev, Chechnyan leader Ramzan Kadyrov offered the Stockton scrapper $2 million to fight 'Borz' at catchweight. Diaz's team issued a statement to ESPN refuting the claim. The news was reported by MMA journalist Marc Raimondi, who shared a screenshot of the statement by Zach Rosenfield, Diaz's representative.
Raimondi also shared a video by Captain Hardcore where Khamzat Chimaev can be seen making the claim. Here's what Nate Diaz's team said in response to 'Borz':
"It is fun fiction for Khamzat. [His claim] just lacks a shred of truth, including what he was supposed to make. At what point in Khamzat's fairy tale did he [Kadyrov] ask Nate Diaz [to take the fight for $2 million]? When he [Chimaev] tapped out of his weight cut at 2 AM? When he was being held in isolation at the UFC PI so the story wouldn't get out? The only millions that were negotiated on that Friday were the millions more that we got for fighting Tony after Khamzat was not professional enough to show up for the fight we asked for."
Check out the tweet by Marc Raimondi below:
Nate Diaz rep Zach Rosenfield sent ESPN a statement on Khamzat Chimaev’s claims that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov offered Diaz $2 million to take the Chimaev fight back in September after Chimaev missed weight https://t.co/Xu1kF59iuh
Skip to 30:37 for Khamzat Chimaev's comments:
Who will Khamzat Chimaev face next?
Khamzat Chimaev is no stranger to calling people out in the UFC. Since 'Borz' fights in two weight classes, the Chechen-born Swede has a whole host of fighters to call out.
Soon after Leon Edwards won his fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 278, Chimaev took the opportunity to call out the English welterweight champion. While Alex Pereira won the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya, 'Borz' didn't waste a minute calling out the Brazilian fighter.
Chimaev also called out former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington around the time he faced Li Jinliang at UFC 267. BMF title-holder Jorge Masvidal is also not off Khamzat Chimaev's radar.
Colby Covington vs. Khamzat Chimaev anyone? https://t.co/VOHX2b3EYV
Most recently, Robert Whittaker was expected to face Paulo Costa at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia. However, due to failed contract negotiations between Costa and the UFC, the fight fell out. Chimaev wasted no time sending a message to the UFC asking for Robert Whittaker, calling it a 'Good guy vs. Bad guy' fight.
Robert Whittaker responded on Submission Radio with the following:
"Let's do it. If it's a fight that gets presented to me - it is what it is. Yeah, I think it'll be a good fight, it'll be a hard fight. I think he's a phenomenal fighter. I think he has a lot of strengths. I think I have a lot of strengths.I'm a hard fight for him."