Khamzat Chimaev responded to Sean O'Malley's trash talk by comparing him to a circus clown, saying he finds it amusing rather than angering. Chimaev explained that when O'Malley's friends approached him in person, the bantamweight immediately changed his tone and said he was just promoting a fight. Chimaev stated he simply doesn't like fake people and views O'Malley's behavior as entertainment rather than genuine animosity. Separately, Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and was the last person to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, claimed that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started training camp for his next bout. Jiri Prochazka fired back at Alex Ullberg's accusations of being fake by calling him a stripper.
Khamzat Chimaev has brushed off Sean O'Malley's public trash talk, describing it as nothing more than circus entertainment and saying he finds the bantamweight's antics amusing rather than provocative.
Chimaev explained that when O'Malley's associates approached him away from the cameras, the former bantamweight champion immediately softened his tone and admitted he was simply trying to generate fight promotion. Chimaev said the episode confirmed his view that O'Malley's aggression is performative, and that he simply has no tolerance for people he considers fake. He characterized the whole situation as a show put on for the public rather than any genuine rivalry.
In a separate development, Artem Vakhitov — a 35-year-old Russian kickboxer who is currently assisting Ciryl Gane in his preparation — offered a bold prediction regarding Alex Pereira. Vakhitov is notable as the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing competition, and he claimed Pereira will come up short because he has added too much muscle mass. Vakhitov holds a 3-1-0 MMA record and an 85 percent striking accuracy, though his background remains primarily in kickboxing.
Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC at 34 years old, confirmed he has begun a training camp ahead of his next scheduled bout. The Russian carries a 28-1-0 record and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete grapplers in the sport.
Also adding to the week's verbal sparring, light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka hit back at accusations from Alex Ullberg, who had called the Czech fighter fake. Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a 32-6-1 record, responded by labeling Ullberg a stripper.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's dismissal of O'Malley keeps a potential cross-divisional rivalry simmering without escalating it
- Vakhitov's comments add outside pressure on Pereira ahead of his next light heavyweight defense
- Makhachev entering camp signals the welterweight title picture is beginning to take shape
- The Prochazka-Ullberg spat adds another layer of tension to an already crowded light heavyweight division
