Khamzat Chimaev revealed he invested between six hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand dollars to construct a wrestling facility for children in his home village in Chechnya. Chimaev explained that he fights not only for himself but to create opportunities to help others, stating that money provides the means to assist people in need. He addressed critics who claim he is inactive, saying he doesn't care about their opinions because he earns millions and is living his dream. Chimaev also mentioned that he earns even more money outside of fighting due to the name recognition he has built, with sponsors and business opportunities seeking him out wherever he goes. He expressed gratitude for his UFC earnings while defending his fight frequency and financial priorities.
Khamzat Chimaev has revealed he spent between $600,000 and $700,000 of his own money to build a wrestling facility for children in his home village in Chechnya, offering a rare look into how the welterweight and middleweight contender chooses to invest his UFC earnings.
Chimaev, who competes at middleweight and holds the number-one divisional ranking as well as a spot at number ten in the pound-for-pound standings, explained that his motivation extends well beyond personal gain. He stated that fighting gives him the means to help others, and that constructing the gym was a direct expression of that purpose. The Chechen-born fighter, who now represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, pushed back firmly against critics who have questioned his activity level inside the octagon. He made clear he has no interest in those opinions, pointing to his earnings and what he described as living his dream.
The 32-year-old also noted that his income reaches well beyond his fight purses. His name recognition has attracted sponsors and business opportunities that follow him wherever he travels, meaning the financial case for staying active on the UFC calendar is not as straightforward as outsiders might assume.
Why it matters
- Chimaev carries a 15-1 record and ranks first in the middleweight division, making his public comments about fight frequency relevant to the title picture
- His elite wrestling output, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, combined with 60 percent striking accuracy, makes him one of the most complete fighters in the weight class
- His comments suggest financial independence may influence how selectively he approaches future bouts
