"Americans tend to talk nonsense in interviews" - Khamzat Chimaev ready to forgive Henry Cejudo as 'Triple C' apologizes for hat incident

Khamzat Chimaev seems ready to move on from his long-running feud with Henry Cejudo. The issue dates back to 2022, with what began as a studio prank.

The situation started when Chimaev left his hat behind after shooting a podcast episode with 'The Schmo' and Cejudo. The following day, Cejudo and his co-host handed the hat to Paulo Costa, who used it in a crude prank that was later shared online.

Cejudo leaned into the joke on social media, which did not sit well with Chimaev. The middleweight star reacted angrily and eventually blocked Cejudo across platforms.

The incident took a hostile turn at the Paris Olympics in August 2024. Chimaev ran into Cejudo while standing in a ticket line and shouted insults in public. Cejudo chose not to escalate the situation and walked away.

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Cejudo accepted responsibility later, admitted that the prank crossed a line, and offered a public apology. Chimaev has now responded by saying he is willing to forgive.

Speaking in an interview with Red Corner MMA, he said:

"It's just that Americans tend to talk nonsense in interviews. Then, when you meet them in person, they shake your hand like nothing happened. That's not our mentality. A person should be genuine in the street, in interviews, everywhere... Of course, when someone asks, I'm not so proud that I wouldn't forgive someone who asks for forgiveness."

Check out Khamzat Chimaev's comments below:

Chimaev is the reigning UFC middleweight champion with an undefeated professional record of 15 wins. His most recent outing saw him dominate Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025, to earn a unanimous decision win and claim the UFC gold.

Looking ahead, Chimaev is expected to defend his title next against top contender Nassourdine Imavov after Ramadan in 2026. Beyond that, Chimaev has made it clear that a move to light heavyweight is part of the plan, with a potential showdown against Alex Pereira firmly on his radar.

Edited by Abhishek Nambiar