Khamzat Chimaev revealed he spent between six hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand dollars to build a wrestling gym for children in his home village in Chechnya. Chimaev stated he fights not only for himself but to create opportunities to help people, emphasizing that money allows him to support his community. He mentioned helping village residents with medical expenses and other needs when they contact him. Chimaev dismissed criticism about his inactivity, saying he earns millions from UFC and even more outside of fighting due to his established reputation. He expressed gratitude for his UFC compensation and stated he is living his dream, with sponsors and business opportunities following him wherever he goes.
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 home village in Chechnya, offering a rare glimpse into how the undefeated welterweight-turned-middleweight contender chooses to spend his earnings.
Chimaev, who carries a 15-1 record and currently ranks first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list, spoke candidly about his motivations. The 32-year-old, who now lives in the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, said he fights not only for personal gain but to generate the resources needed to give back. He described helping village residents cover medical expenses and other day-to-day needs whenever they reach out to him.
The six-foot-two Chechen-born fighter also addressed critics who have questioned his recent activity inside the octagon. Chimaev dismissed those concerns, noting that his UFC purses already reach into the millions and that his brand and reputation generate significant income beyond fighting through sponsors and business ventures. He said he is living out his dream and that commercial opportunities follow him regardless of how often he competes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight, making his public profile and business activities especially high-visibility within the sport.
- His comments on inactivity feed an ongoing conversation about his timeline for the next title shot in a stacked 185-pound division.
- The gym project underscores how elite UFC earners are increasingly leveraging fight-night income to build infrastructure in their home communities.
