Khamzat Chimaev has responded to critics who accuse him of being inactive in the UFC. The middleweight contender stated that he doesn't care about the criticism because he earns millions and has lucrative opportunities outside the octagon. Chimaev revealed that he makes more money outside the UFC through sponsorships and various business projects that come his way thanks to his fighting success. He also made it clear that retirement is not on his mind anytime soon.
Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev has pushed back against critics questioning his UFC activity, insisting he has no plans to retire and that outside income makes the scrutiny easy to dismiss.
Chimaev, the No. 1-ranked middleweight and No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carries a 15-1 record and has established himself as one of the most physically imposing contenders in the 185-pound division. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His in-cage numbers reflect a fighter operating at an elite level when active — he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate, while averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that ranks among the most dominant grappling outputs in the sport.
Speaking out in response to ongoing criticism over the gaps between his appearances, Chimaev said the outside noise simply does not bother him. He pointed to substantial earnings from sponsorships and business ventures that have materialized as a direct result of his fighting profile, suggesting his financial position gives him the comfort to operate on his own timeline. Retirement, he made clear, is nowhere near his thinking.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is ranked No. 1 at middleweight, meaning his activity level directly affects the division's title picture and contender queue.
- A fighter of his pound-for-pound standing remaining on the sidelines creates uncertainty around who the next legitimate title challenger will be.
- His combination of elite striking accuracy and elite grappling volume makes him a uniquely difficult stylistic problem for any opponent in the weight class.
