Khamzat Chimaev revealed he spent between six hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand dollars to construct a wrestling facility for children in his village in Chechnya. Chimaev explained that he fights not only for himself but to create opportunities to help people, dismissing criticism about loving money by emphasizing that wealth enables him to provide aid. He stated he helps community members with various needs, including medical expenses, when people from his village reach out to him. Chimaev also addressed critics of his fight activity, saying he does not care about their opinions because he earns millions from the UFC and even more outside the octagon through sponsorships and business ventures. He emphasized that he has made a name for himself and is living his dream, with people around the world wanting to work with him.
Khamzat Chimaev has revealed that he personally funded the construction of a wrestling facility for children in his home village in Chechnya, spending between $600,000 and $700,000 on the project.
The UFC middleweight contender addressed critics who have accused him of being motivated purely by money, pushing back firmly on that characterization. Chimaev explained that financial success is a means to an end, allowing him to support his community, cover medical expenses for people from his village who reach out to him, and create opportunities for young athletes. He also responded to those who question his fight activity, noting that he earns millions from the UFC and generates additional income through sponsorships and business ventures outside the octagon.
Chimaev, who fights out of the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, carries a 15-1 professional record and is currently ranked first in the middleweight division, sitting tenth in the UFC pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old is one of the most statistically dominant fighters in the sport, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. Born in Chechnya, Chimaev has spoken openly about the importance of giving back to the region where he grew up.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments offer a rare window into how top UFC earners invest their fight-camp income beyond the sport itself
- His dual identity as both a Chechen community figure and a UAE-based fighter continues to shape his public profile
- At number one in the middleweight rankings and top ten pound-for-pound, his outside-octagon influence matches his growing status inside it
