Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, and Justin Gaethje just lately visited Chechnya
The US State Division has commented after a joint journey to Chechnya by ex-UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, plus former light-weight title challenger Justin Gaethje.
The group just lately loved time within the Russian republic within the North Caucasus after reportedly being invited by native chief Ramzan Kadyrov.
A State Division official conversant in American investigations into Kadyrov instructed the New York Instances that the group “is conscious of Kadyrov’s affiliation with Chechen UFC fighters,” which the newspaper claims is the “first direct point out of athletes with the UFC having ties to Kadyrov.”
The American trio that just lately traveled to Chechnya weren’t talked about.
Kadyrov has proven assist to Russian UFC fighters corresponding to Stockholm-based welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev, who was born in Chechnya.
View this publish on Instagram
A publish shared by Аллах Велик !!! (@ya_pomoshnik_kra_95)
But it surely got here as a shock to some within the US in late November to see Cejudo, Gaethje, and Usman in photographs and movies taking pictures assault weapons and firing rocket launchers on the Russian Particular Forces College in Chechnya.
Kadyrov has been the topic of US Treasury Division sanctions since 2017 and acquired extra sanctions in September for supporting and offering troopers for the navy operation in Ukraine.
Responding to the trio’s journey, a State Division spokesperson stated to MMA Junkie that it reiterated US residents “mustn’t journey to Russia and people in Russia ought to depart instantly.”
The spokesperson wouldn’t specify if Cejudo, Gaethje, and Usman had violated guidelines in relation to the sanctions positioned on Kadyrov.
When the photographs of the journey appeared on social media, it was reported that the fighters had attended a celebration thrown for considered one of Kadyrov’s sons.
Cejudo and Gaethje have been visiting Chechnya for the primary time whereas Usman reportedly loved his third go to since November 2020.
Usman was beforehand noticed sparring with considered one of Kadyrov’s sons and attending his 2021 celebration.
Kadyrov just isn’t recognized to have any official relationship with the UFC, however the elite MMA promotion has signed fighters from his Akhmat MMA combat membership based in 2014.
Learn extra
Kadyrov targets UFC president in title combat row
These embody Chimaev, current mild heavyweight title challenger Magomed Ankalaev, Albert Duraev, and Mentioned Nurmagomedov.
On the peak of his profession, retired light-weight nice Khabib Nurmagomedov was additionally seen alongside Kadyrov.
Like Usman, Cejudo, and Gaethje, Nurmagomedov is managed by Ali Abdelaziz.
Certainly one of Kadyrov’s sons attended UFC 280 with Chimaev in Abu Dhabi in October, which is the place Nurmagomedov’s protege, Islam Makhachev, was topped the brand new light-weight champion after profitable the vacant belt towards Charles Oliveira.
After Chimaev scuffled with Nurmagomedov’s cousin Abubakar within the Etihad Enviornment, Kadyrov acted to appease tensions and later shared a video of the lads making peace.
“I’ve been assured of it personally,” Kadyrov stated within the caption on his Instagram publish.
Following Ankalaev’s disappointing draw towards Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 in Las Vegas on the weekend, Kadyrov focused UFC president Dana White and questioned his integrity, after feeling his fighter had finished sufficient to change into 205lbs champion.
