Chimaev credits Trump for return to United States

Khamzat Chimaev has won all eight fights since his UFC debut in 2020

Khamzat Chimaev has credited US President Donald Trump after he secured a visa which allows him to fight in America for the first time in nearly three years.

Russian Chimaev's past two fights took place in Abu Dhabi, with the 31-year-old previously denying that travel issues prevented him from fighting in the US.

Chimaev has ties to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is sanctioned by the US over alleged human rights abuses, including repression, torture and murder.

The middleweight, who has won the first 14 fights of his career, has been pictured numerous times with Kadyrov on social media.

He returns to the US for the first time since 2022 when he faces South Africa's Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois on 16 August.

"This wasn't my bad. This wasn't my fault," Chimaev said about not fighting in the United States.

"Everyone knows I didn't have the visa to [travel to] the US. That's why I didn't fight only once [but twice] in Abu Dhabi. So now Donald Trump is here, we go for a fight."

Trump is close friends with UFC president Dana White, who was a key supporter during his 2024 election campaign.

Last month Trump said he plans to host a UFC event at the White House next year as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.

Despite his return to the US to take on Du Plessis, Chimaev does not believe he will be invited to fight at the White House and has downplayed his interest in politics.

"I don't understand why they're going to put the fights over there," said Chimaev.

"I'm an athlete, a sportsman - all my life I've been training. Some people put me in a position like political and break my visa down and I don't know why.

"I'm just doing [it] for my family - fighting, training. Athletes don't have to be with politics. I'm not connected."

Du Plessis is making the third defence of his belt, while Chimaev is fighting for the first time since submitting Robert Whittaker in October.

Chimaev has long been considered a future UFC champion, but inactivity and illness have stalled his career in recent years.

After submitting Kevin Holland in 2022 - his last appearance in the US - Chimaev has fought just once a year, beating Kamaru Usman in 2023 before his win over Whittaker 10 months ago.