Khamzat Chimaev is fully embracing his new role as heel after missing weight ahead of his now-canceled welterweight matchup with Nate Diaz at UFC 279.
Chimaev (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) weighed 8 pounds over the 170-pound limit at the official UFC 279 weigh-ins, hitting the scales at 178 pounds. He has been relegated to the co-main event where he will fight Travis Lutter BJJ standout Kevin Holland at a catchweight of 180 pounds.
Khamzat was met with a chorus of boos at the UFC 279 ceremonial weigh-ins, but the undefeated Chechnan seemed to feed off of the crowd’s energy, flipping the bird during his interview with Joe Rogan.
Here’s what he had to say, per MMA Junkie: “They stopped that sh*t (the weight cut), I don’t know. Hey, this is Chechnya motherf**kers. Shut up, guys. I’m gonna f**k your boy up, I f**k him backstage as well.”
“I don’t care, I want to smash everybody. I come here (to) f**k everybody. I’m gonna take it over now.”
UFC 279: Diaz vs. Ferguson takes place tonight, Sept. 10, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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