UFC Qatar was filled with excitement and drama, but one particular incident stole the spotlight – the heated altercation between Khamzat Chimaev and Ian Machado Garry backstage. What started as a friendly moment between the fighters quickly escalated into a near-brawl as ‘Borz’ felt disrespected by Garry’s gesture.
After Arman Tsarukyan’s victory over Dan Hooker, Garry congratulated Chimaev by patting him on the back. However, the Chechen-born Emirati took offense to the seemingly disrespectful gesture and shoved the Irishman, leading UFC security to intervene and separate the two fighters.
Chimaev later explained his reaction during the post-fight press conference, accusing Garry of trying to create hype rather than genuinely acknowledge his friend’s win. He criticized Garry for his actions, stating, "If you touch somebody, touch respectfully. Don’t punch somebody on the behind, you know. He was punching, like tapping my back. If you want to show respect, respectfully touch somebody… He came there to make some hype, you know that guy. He is trying to be Conor [McGregor], but he’ll never be Conor."
In response, Garry fired back at Chimaev, calling out his behavior and questioning his champion-like conduct. During the post-fight press conference, Garry expressed his disappointment in Chimaev’s actions, stating, "You’re meant to be a champion of this sport, you’re a child. You’re taking away from your friend’s win over here. How about you calm down, slow down, and have a bit of respect for your friend over here, rather than try to steal the headlines. Do you want the honest truth? It’s little d**k energy. ‘I need to show that I’m tough.’ You’re the champion of the world; no one needs to see you be tough."
The feud between Chimaev and Garry has undoubtedly added an extra layer of drama to the UFC Qatar event. As the two fighters continue to exchange words and tensions rise, fans are left wondering what will happen next in this heated rivalry. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
