Khamzat Chimaev revealed he spent between six hundred and seven hundred thousand dollars building a wrestling gym for children in his village in Chechnya. In an interview on the Beyond The Win channel, Chimaev addressed criticisms about his love of money and inactivity. He stated that money provides opportunities to help people, including assisting sick villagers who call him for support. Chimaev dismissed critics who complain about his long gaps between fights, saying he earns millions from the UFC and is living his dream. He added that he makes even more money outside of fighting through sponsorships and business opportunities due to the name he has built for himself.
Khamzat Chimaev has revealed he invested between $600,000 and $700,000 of his own money to build a wrestling gym for children in his home village in Chechnya, offering a pointed response to critics who have questioned both his financial motivations and his extended absences from competition.
The 32-year-old, competing out of the United Arab Emirates and training with Allstars Training Center, is currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound in the UFC. Chimaev carries a professional record of 15 wins and 1 loss and has established himself as 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. In an interview on the Beyond The Win channel, he pushed back against the narrative that his relationship with money is purely self-serving, explaining that financial success gives him the ability to help people — including sick villagers who reach out to him directly for support.
On the subject of inactivity, Chimaev was equally direct. He said he earns millions from the UFC, considers himself to be living his dream, and generates additional income through sponsorships and business ventures built on the reputation he has earned inside the cage. He dismissed complaints about the gaps between his fights without apology.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments shed light on how he uses his platform and earnings beyond the sport
- As the ranked number one middleweight contender, his public profile amplifies both the criticism he receives and his ability to respond to it
- The gym investment underscores a personal connection to Chechnya that remains central to his public identity despite his base in the UAE
