Khamzat Chimaev responded to Ronda Rousey's recent criticism of the UFC, calling her ungrateful. Chimaev stated that there would be no Ronda without UFC, questioning how much money she made as an Olympic champion before joining the promotion. He also published another clip of his sparring session with Brendan Allen. Additionally, Jan Blachowicz had successful knee surgery, and Francis Ngannou discussed how modern fighters' fear of losing contracts leads them to sign unfavorable deals. Ngannou mentioned that some fighters were offered big money for Netflix bouts but were bound by restrictive contract obligations.
Khamzat Chimaev publicly pushed back against Ronda Rousey this week after the former UFC bantamweight champion voiced criticism of the promotion, calling her ungrateful and arguing that the UFC was responsible for making her a star.
Chimaev, 32, is currently ranked first in the middleweight division and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The UAE-based fighter carries a 15-1-0 record and is among the most feared grapplers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy. His central argument was pointed: Rousey had little financial standing as an Olympic champion before the UFC elevated her profile, and that opportunity deserved recognition rather than resentment. He also shared a fresh clip of a sparring session alongside fifth-ranked middleweight Brendan Allen, continuing what appears to be an ongoing training partnership between the two.
Rousey, 39, finished her UFC career with a 12-2-0 record and remains one of the most decorated fighters in the promotion's history, having built much of women's mixed martial arts into a mainstream attraction during her dominant run.
The article also touches on broader industry themes. Francis Ngannou weighed in on fighter contracts, suggesting that fear of losing promotional deals pushes athletes into signing agreements with unfavorable terms. Ngannou noted that some fighters were offered substantial money for Netflix bouts but were unable to accept due to restrictive contract obligations. Separately, Jan Blachowicz underwent successful knee surgery, though no timeline for his return was provided.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments reignite the ongoing debate over fighter pay and loyalty within the UFC
- Ngannou's remarks highlight how contractual restrictions can limit fighters from pursuing outside opportunities
- The Chimaev-Allen sparring footage keeps both middleweights in the public conversation ahead of potential divisional movement
