n a moving and deeply personal testimony shared just five minutes ago, the mother of UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev has opened up to the media for the first time about her son’s difficult childhood. Her comments have touched thousands of fans around the world and begun to spark a powerful conversation about mental health in professional sports .

“Please understand my son,” she said, visibly moved. “Khamzat wasn’t always the warrior you know today. As a child, he had to battle inner storms that nearly drove him away from his passion for martial arts.”

Childhood marked by silent battles

Khamzat Chimaev, nicknamed “Borz” for his fierce and relentless style inside the Octagon, is known for his aggression, intensity, and confidence. But, as his mother revealed, that strength is the result of years of facing severe emotional difficulties from a young age.

“During his childhood, Khamzat suffered from severe anxiety and depressive episodes,” he explained. “There were times when he didn’t want to leave the house, when the thought of training paralyzed him. Not because of laziness or lack of motivation, but because he felt emotionally trapped.”

 

Originally from Chechnya, young Chimaev migrated to Sweden with his family in search of better opportunities. He also experienced the trauma of uprooting and cultural adaptation, factors that, according to his mother, deepened his internal struggles.

“He felt different, isolated. Sometimes, not even we knew how to help him. But every day he fought to get up, to try one more time. That, to me, made him a champion.”

A wave of support sweeps social media

Reactions to his statements were quick to arrive. Within minutes, social media began to fill with messages of solidarity. The hashtag #EntiendenABorz quickly became a trending topic among MMA fans.

“My absolute respect for Khamzat and his mother. Now I understand where his strength comes from. It’s not just physical, it’s emotional,” one fan commented on X (formerly Twitter).

“The pain one carries isn’t always visible from the outside. Thank you for sharing something so intimate. This further humanizes the warrior we see in the Octagon,” wrote another.

 

Some UFC colleagues, such as Alexander Gustafsson and Gilbert Burns , also sent messages of support, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about mental health in the world of combat sports.

 

Breaking the mental health taboo in MMA

Despite the growing focus on athlete well-being, mental health remains a sensitive topic in mixed martial arts, a sport that has traditionally celebrated emotional toughness as a symbol of greatness. Chimaev’s mother’s words have opened a rare window into an unseen aspect of fighters: their humanity.

Dr. Elena Farah , a sports psychology specialist, commented:

“Hearing a mother speak with such love and courage about her son’s psychological difficulties helps demystify the idea that fighters are invulnerable. What this woman did is a form of love, but also of activism.”

 

The doctor added that these kinds of testimonies can encourage other young athletes—especially in migrant communities—to seek support without fear of judgment or stigma.

“He gave everything he had”

Throughout his career, Khamzat Chimaev has impressed with his dominance inside the Octagon, rapidly rising through the UFC ranks with a relentless style and boundless confidence. But according to his mother, those accomplishments shouldn’t overshadow the reality of what it took to get there.

“What the public sees is strength, aggression, victory. But behind every training session were days of silent struggle, of pain that can’t be healed with bandages. And yet, he never stopped trying.”

With a broken voice, he finished his message:

“We’re not asking for sympathy. We’re just asking for understanding. My son did the best he could, and as a mother, I couldn’t be more proud.”

A message that resonates

Beyond the titles, records, and fame, this mother’s words remind us that every champion is also a human being. In Chimaev’s case, his story is that of someone who not only defeated opponents in the Octagon, but has also been quietly winning a much deeper and more personal fight.

Conclusion

The testimony of Khamzat Chimaev’s mother is a powerful reminder that courage is also measured in unshed tears and invisible battles . By opening this conversation, she has helped break down barriers and bring the MMA world closer to a more human truth: that even the strongest, once, needed to be understood.