Khamzat Chimaev has responded to critics who accuse him of inactivity, stating that he doesn't care about the criticism because he earns millions of dollars. Chimaev emphasized that he makes more money outside the UFC than inside the organization, benefiting from sponsorships and business projects stemming from his fame. He said that wherever he goes, people want to sponsor him and collaborate on various ventures. The fighter also made clear that retirement is still far off for him despite questions about his activity level.
Khamzat Chimaev has fired back at critics questioning his activity level, insisting the criticism means little to him given the substantial income he generates outside of competition.
The 32-year-old middleweight contender, who carries a 15-1 record and sits ranked first in the division and tenth pound-for-pound, addressed the noise surrounding his fight frequency directly. Chimaev stated he earns millions of dollars and that his income from sponsorships and business ventures outside the UFC actually exceeds what he makes inside the octagon. He described an environment where his fame draws sponsors and commercial collaborators wherever he goes, suggesting his financial position gives him little reason to rush back into action simply to satisfy outside pressure. He also pushed back firmly on any talk of retirement, making clear that stepping away from the sport is nowhere near his plans.
Born in Chechnya and now representing the United Arab Emirates, Chimaev trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden and has built one of the most statistically dominant profiles in the sport. His striking accuracy sits at 60 percent, among the highest in the division, and he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute. His grappling is equally imposing, with 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in that same window — numbers that reflect a complete, high-pressure fighting style.
Why it matters
- Chimaev holds the number one middleweight ranking, meaning his activity directly affects title contention and divisional movement below him
- His comments suggest he feels no financial urgency to accept fights on a timeline dictated by external expectations
- A fighter with his skillset remaining on the sidelines creates a significant gap at the top of a competitive 185-pound division
