REPORT: Khamzat Chimaev passport seized in Russia, manager refutes claims [UPDATED]

According to reports, Khamzat Chimaev’s passport was seized, and he was prevented from leaving Russia.

UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has had his passport seized by Russian authorities, and he is currently unable to leave the country, according to a report by Brazilian outlet Combate.

Chimaev was initially supposed to arrive in Rio de Janeiro this week to watch a film premiere about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Fernando Terere. However, his passport was taken because Russia “has been recruiting soldiers for the war against Ukraine,” the outlet says.

Chimaev had his passport seized in St. Petersburg, where he disembarked before heading to Chechnya to visit his family. Chimaev is a Chechen native; however, he currently resides and trains in Sweden.

Khamzat Chimaev’s team is trying to get him out of Russia

The fighter’s team is currently trying to get the Swedish government involved to bring him back to the country, Combate reported. There is no word on the exact reason why Chimaev’s passport is still being held.

Chimaev is a close friend of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who even attended his wedding earlier this year, but it’s unclear if that association helps or hurts Chimaev’s situation at this time.

FanSided has reached out to Chimaev’s management for comment and have not received a response yet but ESPN’s Brett Okamoto says that Chimaev’s manager says the reports are “not true.”

This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.