KHAMZAT CHIMAEV turned down an invitation to join Mike Tyson's Hotboxin' podcast. This is partly due to the legend's love for weed.
Stars from the world of combat sports, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tyson Fury, were featured on the show.
Khamzat Chimaev's UFC debut
was spectacular
Khamzat (27 years old) refused to accept an offer due to Tyson's history, even though Ali Abdelaziz presented the opportunity.
He insists, however, that he DOES respect Iron Mike.
He said to The Hustle MMA Podcast: "Ali stated Mike Tyson also wants some, but I didn’t go.
"I had no desire to do that."
"As an athlete and a fighter, I like him. However, I dislike what happened to him: the violence, the drugs, then the Muslims. It's all very strange.
"But I still respect his fighter qualities and his persona.
He went through many things, and because of that, he was unable to cope, did many bad things.
"And no one can predict what will happen to us. It can happen to anyone. You may be a normal, good person but then something happens and you end in a mental institution.
"I don’t judge anyone but I didn’t want to go."
After hanging up his gloves, Tyson, 55 launched a PS500k-a month cannabis empire.
Khamzat is a meanwile at the start of his fight career. He has had a remarkable start to life in UFC.
He defeated John Phillips and Rhys McKee in ten days. Gerald Meerschaert was defeated less than two months later.
The grappler was then diagnosed with Covid and was forced to miss a year. He then re-started his MMA career in October after submitting Li Jingliang at Fight Island.
After being rejected by Nate Diaz, he claimed that he was 'here for everyone'.
