Khamzat Chimaev finally makes his long-awaited return to competition in UFC 308’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event in T-minus two days (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024) against No. 3-ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker, from inside Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
To hype up the stacked PPV, Ulitmate Fighting Championship (UFC) held its pre-fight press conference (watch here), and surprisingly, things got a little heated between Chimaev and an Australian reporter.
The reporter asked Whittaker, “As always, you have the entire country behind you, but Saturday night, it will be 5 a.m. in [Australia]. Would you recommend that people in Sydney and Melbourne go to bed early the night before and set their alarms or push through, send it, and have a big party when Whittaker gets the W?”
Chimaev replied, “It will be a bad morning for you guys,” to which the reporter said, “I didn’t ask you.” Then Borz told the reporter, “F—k off, man.”
Whittaker would go on to answer the question in a jovial manner, and after he was done, Chimaev told the crowd, “Abu Dhabi fans, my Muslim brothers, take out these chickens, throw him out, go back to Australia.”
Watch the clip below:
Khamzat Chimaev asks his Abu Dhabi and Muslim fans to throw out the Australian reporter for disrespecting him.
“F**k off man, throw him out.”
: @ufc #UFC308 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/LyZLJUrNW0
— BlockPicks (@BlockPicksGG) October 24, 2024
Chimaev isn’t shy about cussing out fighters, fans, and now reporters. Well, he did flip all the media off when he missed weight at UFC 279.
Nevertheless, Chimaev returns from a one-year layoff this weekend, while Whittaker has fought twice this year already.
The good news is that “Borz” is strong and healthy.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 308 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET (simulcast on ESPNews at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 2 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 308: “Topuria vs. Holloway” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.