Khamzat Chimaev revealed he spent between $600,000 and $700,000 to build a wrestling facility for children in his village in Chechnya. The fighter explained that he fights not only for himself and loves money because it provides opportunities to help people. Chimaev stated he also provides financial assistance to villagers who fall ill or need help. Addressing criticism about his inactivity, he said he doesn't care about the criticism as he earns millions and is living his dream. He added that he earns even more money outside of fighting due to sponsorships and business opportunities associated with his name recognition.
Khamzat Chimaev has revealed he invested between $600,000 and $700,000 of his own money to construct a wrestling facility for children in his home village in Chechnya, offering a rare glimpse into how the feared middleweight spends his earnings outside the cage.
The 32-year-old, who fights out of the UAE and trains at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, explained that his motivation for earning money extends beyond personal gain. He stated that he fights not only for himself and values his income because it gives him the means to help others. Beyond the gym project, Chimaev said he also provides direct financial assistance to villagers who fall ill or find themselves in need.
Ranked first in the UFC middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, Chimaev carries a 15-1 record and has established himself as one of the most physically dominant fighters in the sport. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate — numbers that underline a smothering, all-around game that has made him a consistent threat at 185 pounds.
Responding to criticism over his recent inactivity, Chimaev was blunt, saying he does not care about the noise given that he earns millions inside the octagon. He added that his income from sponsorships and business ventures tied to his global name recognition now surpasses what he makes from fighting itself.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments shed light on the financial scale available to elite UFC fighters who build strong personal brands.
- His dismissal of inactivity criticism signals he feels no urgency to rush back, which has implications for the crowded middleweight title picture.
- As the division's top-ranked contender, any prolonged absence keeps the 185-pound landscape unsettled beneath the champion.
