Chechen dictator’s son set to make pro MMA debut after training with UFC stars
The teenage son of Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov is primed to make his MMA debut.
Ali Kadyrov, 15, will face Islam Akbarov in a three-round bout on the preliminary card at the Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) 150 event in the Chechnya region of Russia on Friday. Ahead of his first MMA fight Kadyrov has had some expert tuition from former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt along with rising star Khamzat Chimaev.
Swedish fighter Chimaev was born in the Chechnya region of Russia and has a close relationship with Kadyrov and his sons. It came as no surprise when Ali joined Chimaev and the Sweden’s Allstar team in preparation for his debut.
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Chimaev posted a training montage of the youngster preparing for his bout on Instagram alongside a pre-fight promotional picture. He commented: "My dear younger brother Ali Kadyrov. Brother, I know how hard you've been training and how great shape you're in."
Chimaev is a three-time freestyle wrestling Swedish National champion and emigrated with his mother and brother to Sweden when he was aged 18. He recently had his 'passport confiscated' on a visit to Russia and faced a battle to return home.
The UFC fighter has a record of 6-0 since joining the series in July in 2020. During trips back to Chechnya, he has been pictured with dictator Kadyrov and his sons. He has also been key in their taking up of MMA sparring and attended UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi with the brothers.
Despite it being Ali's first professional MMA fight, he has previously been part of a televised fight alongside his brothers, according to MMA News site Bloody Elbow. The site claims that Kadyrov faced criticism at the time for placing his sons— with the oldest at the time being 11 — in fights without protective headgear.
Kadyrov’s sons were also recently sent to Mariupol in Ukraine as part of a publicity stunt.
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