Khamzat Chimaev revealed he spent between $600,000 and $700,000 to build a wrestling gym for children in his native village in Chechnya. In an interview, Chimaev explained that he fights not only for himself but to help others, noting that money provides opportunities to assist people in his community. He stated he helps with medical expenses and other needs when villagers call him. Chimaev dismissed criticism about his inactivity between fights, saying he earns millions from the UFC and even more outside the octagon through sponsorships and business opportunities. He emphasized that he has built his name and is living his dream while being able to give back to his community.
Khamzat Chimaev has revealed he invested between $600,000 and $700,000 of his own money to construct a wrestling gym for children in his native village in Chechnya, offering a rare glimpse into how the welterweight-turned-middleweight contender chooses to spend his earnings.
Chimaev, 30 years old and currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings, made the disclosure in a recent interview. The 188-centimeter fighter, who carries a 15-1 professional record and competes out of Allstars Training Center, explained that his motivations extend well beyond personal success. He described fighting as a means to create opportunities for the people around him, noting that he helps cover medical expenses and other needs whenever members of his community reach out to him.
The Chechen-born fighter, who now lists the United Arab Emirates as his country of residence, also addressed critics who question the gaps between his UFC appearances. Chimaev pushed back firmly, pointing out that his UFC purses reach into the millions and that sponsorships and outside business ventures generate even greater income. In his view, he has established his name at the top of the sport and is living out a dream while simultaneously giving back.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight contender, making his public profile and off-octagon decisions unusually high-stakes for the division
- The gym investment signals a long-term commitment to his Chechen roots despite relocating to the UAE
- His comments on inactivity and earnings keep the conversation around his next fight simmering, even as no opponent was announced
Inside the octagon, Chimaev remains one of the most statistically dominant fighters on the roster, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60-percent accuracy rate while averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — numbers that make his combination of striking and grappling difficult to match at 185 pounds.
