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Tsarukyan reveals Chimaev was in an earlier UFC Qatar scuffle before Ian Garry clash

Originally posted on HITC | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Nov 27, 2025 10:55 AM ET

Khamzat Chimaev’s confrontation with Ian Machado Garry was not the only incident involving the middleweight champion during UFC Qatar.

Although Chimaev was in attendance to support his friend and training partner Arman Tsarukyan, much of the post-fight talk focused on his own actions that night.

After cornering Tsarukyan to a win over Dan Hooker, ‘Borz’ found himself in a heated moment, this time involving one of the event’s co-headliners.

Garry had just edged out Belal Muhammad in an important welterweight contest when a seemingly civil meeting between him and Chimaev quickly turned tense, ending with the middleweight champ shoving ‘The Future’.

And it looks like that was not the only backstage incident involving the Chechen star earlier in the night…

Arman Tsarukyan claims that Khamzat Chimaev also pushed a security guard at UFC Qatar

Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images

Chimaev’s push on Garry at UFC Qatar was not his only incident that night.

According to Tsarukyan during an interview on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, ‘Borz’ also clashed with a security guard before entering the arena for his main event.

“Khamzat has a 2-0 that day,” Tsarukyan began by saying.

“We just came from the bus and we were getting to the arena and one bodyguard pushed into Khamzat and said, ‘Hey, go back and come back again.’ It was like a security (apparatus), you know?

“He doesn’t let Khamzat get in, and Khamzat is like, bam, pushes him.

“And then when we were in locker room, they called police, you know? They take him out, then he came back, and then they take him out, and he came back.

“And then Ian Garry, same s—. He (Chimaev) got 2-0 that day.”

Arman Tsarukyan aims to join Khamzat Chimaev as a UFC champion in 2026

Tsarukyan’s win in Qatar has strengthened his case to be the first challenger for Ilia Topuria’s title, as discussions continue about who should get the opening shot of the Spaniard’s reign.

Since Paddy Pimblett squared off with Topuria at UFC 317, the Scouser has been seen as the frontrunner, largely due to his history with the champion.

However, many believe Tsarukyan deserves to be ahead of both ‘The Baddy’ and Justin Gaethje, who has threatened to retire if he is not given the opportunity by the UFC.

Topuria is expected to make his first lightweight title defence early next year, and the UFC should soon confirm who will get that opportunity.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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