Chimaev opens up about his son's health issues ahead of his UFC 308 fight with Whittaker

Khamzat Shimaev has not yet entered the octagon in 2024. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @KChimaev

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Amid preparations for the long-awaited fight against Robert whittaker No. UFC 308 this Saturday (26), Khamzat Shimaev surprised everyone by sharing a more personal and intimate side of his life. In an interview with 'ESPN', the Swede revealed that his son is facing health problems, including a single kidney and other complications, and that the family is going through a challenging time.

“My son had one surgery, then another, but thank God, everything is fine. There is only one more left after the fight. After that, he will be healthy. So, let's see. He is a year and a half old,” Chimaev said.

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The fight against Whittaker represents one of the biggest challenges of Khamzat's career. In addition to the tough opponent, the Swede also faces a personal battle. Balancing his UFC career with caring for his son has been a huge challenge, but the fighter is determined to overcome all difficulties.

“He has only one kidney. Some problems, I don’t know what they call it in English. But they say that many children have this. Thank God, he is healthy, he talks, you know. He walks, he runs. He is happy,” he added.

The change in strategy for the fight against Whittaker aims to ensure that the fighter is in top physical and mental shape to face the challenges inside and outside the octagon. The Chimaev family has received support from fans and friends, who are rooting for their son's recovery and a great victory for the fighter. In his career, he has 13 positive results and no negative ones.