Khamzat and Abubakar Make Peace - With Help From Kadyrov

The beef between Khamzat Chimaev and Abubakar Nurmagomedov appears to have been quashed, per an Instagram post by the latter!

Abubakar and Khamzat were both cage side for Saturday’s UFC 280 lightweight title main event between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. Abubakar had just won a fight against Gadzhi Omargadzhiev and Khamzat was rumored to be there to negotiate his next fight. As Makhachev was giving his post-fight interview after submitting Oliveiria, a physical altercation broke out between Khamzat and Abubakar!

Khamzat Chimaev got into an physical altercation cageside immediately following Islam Makhachev's win at UFC 280. pic.twitter.com/5SHaCFIIgF

— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) October 22, 2022

While the exact cause of this altercation is unknown, many speculate that it goes back to a since-deleted Instagram post by Abubakar directed at Chimaev. Abubakar seems to have taken issue with Khamzat’s comments about his cousin, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Abubaker Nurmagomedov sends a message to khamzat chimaev after his comments about khabib

(translated from Russian) pic.twitter.com/1NV2BQm8oV

— Pablo_Escobar (@JM97_79) May 14, 2021

Regardless of the cause, it seems that all is now water under the bridge. Shortly after the incident, photos circulated on MMA Reddit of Khamzat sharing a meal with Khabib’s team. Everyone appeared to be having a good time, with no sign of conflict. Abubakar Nurmagomedov then posted a video on his Instagram of Khabib leading a group of men and explaining that the disagreement had been resolved. A translation of part of the video says:

“A small misunderstanding that took place personally between me and Khamzat. After that, we met with him in the Brotherhood circle, where we were gathered by the elders. As I said in an interview before my fight, Khamzat is my brother in Faith and I always wish him health and success. I ask you, brothers, not to invent any kind of gossip and I hope our meeting will be beneficial between our brotherly peoples.”

To add a bit of irony to the situation, it appears that the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov played a part in resolving this conflict. Kadyrov posted a screenshot to one of his Instagram channels which showed a video call with Chimaev and Abubakar Nurmagomedov. Kadyrov claimed in the text that he helped to mediate the issue between the two. While Kadyrov may have helped these two fighters make peace, he is widely considered by political analysts to be one of the most brutal dictators on the planet.