ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - In an official statement posted to his social media, Kurdish MMA fighter Namo Fazil addressed the recent controversy surrounding him and a number of Chechen fighters, stressing that he has no issues with the Northeast Caucasian ethnic group, but rather only one individual, whom he did not refer to by name.

Tensions have been escalating over the past week between Fazil and a number of Chechen MMA fighters, after the Kurdish striker alleged that a group of Chechen men had barged into his room, throwing insults and striking him in the face twice, a day before his Dana White’s Contender Series bout against Brazil’s Kaik Brito.

Fazil, who was on a seven-fight winning streak, went on to suffer a knockout defeat to Brito.

Though Fazil never named the men who attacked him, many quickly suggested the incident may be linked to the Kurdish fighter’s previous comments where he describes Chechen model-turned-fighter Islam Dulatov as “soft” and “feminine”.

“I have no issue whatsoever with Chechens or the Chechen people. I have many Chechen friends whom I consider brothers, and I have nothing but respect for the nation as a whole,” read the statement from Fazil posted on his Instagram story on Monday.

“Islam Dulatov and I spoke privately, settled our differences like men, and through that conversation I genuinely found a brother in him,” he added.

In a post on X on Friday, Ali Abdelaziz, Fazil’s manager, shared a screenshot of a video call between his client and Dulatov, saying that the two fighters had settled their differences and that Fazil “took responsibility for his words and apologized sincerely to Islam.”

“My issue is with one individual, This is personal between him and me and has absolutely nothing to do with his nationality or where he comes from,” Fazil added.

Another Chechen striker involved in the controversy is Baisangur Susurkaev, a teammate of prolific fighter Khamzat Chimaev, who, following Fazil’s loss, posted a picture of his hand on social media, with the caption reading: “Left hand 2-0 Namo cryer.”

Chimaev on Thursday posted a statement to Instagram referring to Kurds and Chechens as “brothers” and urging unity, noting that he was “not happy with the things that happened,” while stressing: “When someone speaks bad then he should know there always will be consequences.”

In a post-fight presser on Sunday, UFC CEO Dana White was asked about the Fazil-Chechens controversy and whether Susurkaev had faced any consequences for his actions, to which White vaguely replied: “Yeah. I didn’t even talk about it. You guys wouldn’t even know if he didn’t talk about it.”

“We handled it behind the scenes and that’s the business we’re in. Lots of crazy shit happens every day in this business,” the UFC president added.

Fazil has not mentioned Susurkaev by name in any of his written or recorded statements since the incident.

“I want to make this absolutely clear one final time: I do not have an issue with Chechnya, Chechens, or the Chechen community. I have an issue with one individual because of what happened between him and me. Nothing more, nothing less,” the Kurdish fighter concluded.