""He used to be a humble kid, now he's not," Makhachev told Red Corner MMA. "He himself was shocked by the way they recognized him in the U.S. Journalists were waiting in the lobby to get an interview. He went a bit too far, and Khabib slowed him down. He said, 'Chanco, don't chase the hype; the hype has to chase you.' So we slowed him down on time.""
"Islam reveals Chanko was stunned by his recognition in the US, and Khabib had to step in. 😲😅 "He was shocked by the way they recognized him in the US. Journalists were waiting in the lobby to interview him. He went a bit too far, and Khabib slowed him down. Khabib said, 'Don't... pic.twitter.com/RYLJAIiwp8 - Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 16, 2026"
Magomed 'Wild Chanco' Zaynukov was surprised by the recognition he received in the United States, encountering journalists waiting in a hotel lobby for interviews. Khabib Nurmagomedov intervened and told him, "Chanco, don't chase the hype; the hype has to chase you," which helped calm Zaynukov. Zaynukov first gained attention after a viral introduction to Demetrious Johnson and a surname misreading as "John Pork" that increased his profile. Zaynukov earned a UFC contract with a unanimous decision win over Lucas Caldas in October 2025. His record stands at 8-0, and the undefeated 31-year-old already has a sizable fanbase before his UFC debut.
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