'Childish energy': UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev involved in heated backstage scuffle
Updated . First published at
UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev has been labelled "childish" following a heated backstage altercation with Ian Garry.
The pair exchanged words and a brief physical stoush in Qatar shortly after Garry's victory over Belal Muhammad on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Things appeared to be going smoothly as Garry joked with Chimaev's security guard, but it quickly got out of hand when the Russian lashed out with a push.
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The pair were quickly separated as Chimaev could be heard saying "I'm gonna f--k you up bitch" as Garry was ushered away before the incident got any worse.
"That's just childish. You're supposed to be a champion in this sport," the Irish star yelled towards Chimaev as he walked away.
Ian Garry and Khamzat Chimaev Twitter
Asked in his post-fight presser what he believed triggered the incident, Garry gave his version of events and explained he only went in Chimaev's direction to congratulate his friend Arman Tsarukyan and things quickly escalated.
"I went to Khamzat, I said, 'Hey champ, what's up? When are we going to see you back?," he explained.
"He goes, 'I don't know, brother, whenever. Smash.' Cool, sweet, slaps me on the back, I'm like, alright, cool. Security guy gets in front of us, I'm like, 'we literally were just cool with each other, he's not going to fight me.' And then that childish energy comes out.
"How about you calm down, slow down, and have a bit of respect for your friend over here rather than trying to steal the headlines."
Chimaev had a far more damning reaction to the incident.
"He came there to make some hype for him," he said.
"That guy trying to be Conor [McGregor] but he's never gonna be Conor. He's a shit fighter, he fought shit."
His victory over Muhammad continues a stellar rise for Garry, who holds a 17-1 career record and is ranked sixth in the welterweight division.
Tsarukyan on the other hand put himself in the frame for a lightweight title shot with a dominant submission win over New Zealand's Dan Hooker.
