Khamzat Chimaev shoves Ian Machado Garry in backstage brawl at UFC Qatar
It wasn’t a fight inside the Octagon — but it might have been more explosive. On June 22, 2024, just minutes after Ian Machado Garry earned a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Bonfim at UFC on ABC 6: Whittaker vs. AliskerovLusail Sports Arena in Qatar, Khamzat Chimaev approached him from behind and shoved him hard enough to lift his feet off the ground. The 12-second altercation, caught on camera and confirmed by multiple eyewitnesses, sent shockwaves through the MMA world — not because of the violence itself, but because of what it revealed about a simmering feud that had been building for over a year.
The Moment It Happened
At 11:45 PM GST, in the narrow production hallway behind the Octagon at the Lusail Sports Arena, Chimaev — who hadn’t fought since December 2022 — walked up to Garry, grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, and delivered a two-handed shove to the chest. Witnesses say Garry stumbled backward into his coaching team, visibly stunned. No words were exchanged before the shove. According to MMA Fighting’s anonymous source, “It wasn’t a push. It was an attack.”
Within seconds, John Kavanagh, Garry’s head coach and founder of Straight Blast Gym Ireland, stepped between them, shouting, “Not here! This is not the place!” Meanwhile, Andreas Michael, Chimaev’s striking coach from Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, wrapped his arms around Chimaev’s torso and pulled him back 15 feet, yelling, “Khamzat, stop! You’re better than this!”
UFC security and Dr. Johnny Benjamin, the organization’s senior vice president of athlete health and performance, arrived within 15 seconds to enforce a 10-foot separation. The entire incident lasted less than a minute — but its impact will echo for months.
Why This Feud Has Been Building
The shove wasn’t random. It was the culmination of 14 months of public taunting and unspoken threats.
In November 2023, at UFC 296Las Vegas, Garry — then undefeated at 9-0 — called out Chimaev from the cage, saying, “I’m coming for you.” Chimaev, seated cageside, didn’t respond. He didn’t even look up.
Then, in April 2024, on The MMA Hour, Garry doubled down: “He’s never been tested like I’ll test him. I’ll be the first one to finish Chimaev.” Chimaev, still recovering from liver surgery and lingering effects of COVID-19, stayed silent. But in a December 2023 BBC interview, he’d already declared, “Garry is next after I beat Robert Whittaker.”
That line — “next after Whittaker” — became the invisible thread tying them together. Garry, 11-0, was rising fast. Chimaev, once the UFC’s most feared prospect, had been sidelined for 20 months. The tension wasn’t just about rankings. It was about legacy, relevance, and who gets to be the next big thing.
UFC’s Response and Potential Fallout
At 9:17 AM GST on June 23, Dana White confirmed a formal investigation had been launched by UFC’s Department of Athletic Regulation. Under Section 6.2 of the Unified Rules of MMA, Chimaev could face fines up to $500,000 or a suspension. The UFC’s disciplinary committee, chaired by former Nevada Athletic Commission executive Bob Bennett, will meet on June 28 at the UFC Performance Institute in Nevada to review video, audio, and witness statements.
Dr. Michael Lech, associate professor of sports law at Pepperdine University, told MMA Fighting: “This is a clear violation of Article 3.4 of the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy — physical aggression at an event. The minimum penalty is 30% of fight purse forfeiture. But given the public nature and the fact it happened after a fight, they could go much harder.”
Chimaev is under a five-fight contract extension worth $2.5 million per bout, signed in February 2023. Garry, meanwhile, earns $150,000 per fight under a four-fight deal. The financial stakes are enormous — and so are the reputational risks.
What This Means for the Welterweight Division
The fallout extends beyond two men. Seventeen of 28 UFC welterweights have publicly condemned the incident. Current champion Belal Muhammad tweeted at 1:22 AM GST on June 23: “This isn’t how we do things. We settle scores in the Octagon.”
That sentiment is shared by fighters who’ve spent years grinding through the ranks. Garry’s undefeated record makes him a rising star. Chimaev’s return has been hyped as a blockbuster. But now, the narrative has shifted. Instead of “Chimaev vs. Garry” as a fight fans crave, it’s become “Chimaev vs. the rules.”
What happens next? If Chimaev is suspended, his return fight — likely against Whittaker — could be delayed. If Garry is seen as the victim, his market value could spike. But if the UFC hands down a light penalty, it risks signaling that aggression is tolerated if you’re a star.
What’s Next?
The June 28 disciplinary hearing will be pivotal. Will Chimaev apologize? Will Garry demand a fight? Will the UFC use this to force a matchup they’ve been avoiding?
One thing’s certain: this wasn’t just a shove. It was a spark. And in MMA, sparks become wildfires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chimaev shove Garry after the fight?
The shove wasn’t spontaneous — it was the culmination of 14 months of escalating tension. Garry publicly called out Chimaev in November 2023 and declared he’d be the first to finish him in April 2024. Chimaev, sidelined since 2022, had hinted Garry was his next target. The backstage confrontation appears to be Chimaev’s attempt to assert dominance before their eventual fight, though it crossed a clear line.
What penalties could Chimaev face?
Under UFC’s Unified Rules, Chimaev could be fined up to $500,000 or suspended for up to a year. The minimum penalty under Article 3.4 of the Fighter Conduct Policy is 30% of his fight purse forfeiture. Given the public nature and video evidence, a suspension combined with a fine is likely. The UFC’s disciplinary committee will decide on June 28.
Is this fight still happening?
It’s still possible — but far more complicated. If Chimaev is suspended, the matchup could be delayed by months. If the UFC wants to capitalize on the drama, they might rush the fight to the next pay-per-view. But most fighters and insiders agree: a forced matchup after this incident would feel hollow. The story now isn’t just about who wins — it’s about accountability.
How has the UFC handled similar incidents in the past?
In 2016, Conor McGregor was fined $150,000 and suspended for six months after throwing a dolly at a bus carrying fighters. In 2020, Colby Covington was fined $50,000 for shoving a fighter during a weigh-in. Both cases involved public aggression, but neither was as violent or as clearly captured as this one. Chimaev’s case is more severe due to the lack of provocation and the use of force that lifted Garry off his feet.
What does this mean for Garry’s career?
Garry’s undefeated record (11-0) and clean reputation now carry added weight. If Chimaev is punished, Garry may emerge as the moral victor — potentially boosting his marketability. He could land a bigger contract, a title shot, or even a main event spot. But if the UFC downplays the incident, it could signal that aggression is rewarded, which would be a dark message for younger fighters.
Could this lead to a ban for Chimaev?
A lifetime ban is unlikely, but a multi-month suspension is probable. Chimaev’s contract is worth $2.5 million per fight — the UFC has too much invested to cut him loose. However, if he shows no remorse or repeats the behavior, the UFC could invoke a “conduct detrimental to the organization” clause. His future hinges on how he responds to the investigation — and whether he’s willing to apologize.
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