The UFC star turned down the opportunity to appear on Mike Tyson’s podcast and explained why.
Mike Tyson invited a UFC star to his podcast, but the offer was brutally snubbed.
Tyson‘s Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast has seen some of the biggest names in the world of sports sit down and chat with the boxing legend, who recently returned to the ring against Jake Paul.
UFC boss Dana White, UFC commentator Joe Rogan and former UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov have all featured on the channel.
But Khamzat Chimaev turned down Tyson’s invitation to appear on his podcast because of the 58-year-old’s chequered past.
Chimaev, who’s one of the biggest names in the UFC, said he didn’t have ‘much desire’ to do the podcast when presented with the exciting opportunity.
On The Hustle MMA podcast, he explained: “Ali said Mike Tyson also wants something, but I didn’t go. I didn’t have much desire to do that.
“As a fighter, an athlete, I really like him. But I don’t like what all happened with him – The violence, the pills, the marijuana, then Muslims, it’s strange.
“But I still respect him – Both as a fighter and as a person.”
Khamzat Chimaev celebrates beating Robert Whittaker. Image: Getty
Chimaev added: “He went through a lot of things and because of this, he broke down, did a lot of bad things.
“And no one knows what will happen to me. It can happen to anyone. A good, normal person, but something happens and you end up in a mental hospital.
“I don’t judge anyone, but I just didn’t want to go.”
Chimaev, 30, has registered eight big wins since signing with the UFC and appears to be on the cusp of fighting for UFC gold.
He boasts wins over the likes of Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland and Kamaru Usman.
And in his most recent outing, he destroyed top contender Robert Whittaker in one round to potentially set up a title clash against Dricus Du Plessis.
