Chimaev credits Trump for return to United States
Trump is close friends with UFC president Dana White, who was a key supporter during his 2024 election campaign.Last month Trump said he plans to host a UFC event at the White House next year as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.Despite his return to the US to take on Du Plessis, Chimaev does not believe he will be invited to fight at the White House and has downplayed his interest in politics."I don't understand why they're going to put the fights over there," said Chimaev. "I'm an athlete, a sportsman - all my life I've been training. Some people put me in a position like political and break my visa down and I don't know why."I'm just doing [it] for my family - fighting, training. Athletes don't have to be with politics. I'm not connected."Du Plessis is making the third defence of his belt, while Chimaev is fighting for the first time since submitting Robert Whittaker in October.Chimaev has long been considered a future UFC champion, but inactivity and illness have stalled his career in recent years.After submitting Kevin Holland in 2022 - his last appearance in the US - Chimaev has fought just once a year, beating Kamaru Usman in 2023 before his win over Whittaker 10 months ago.
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