Khamzat Chimaev responded to recent criticism from Ronda Rousey regarding UFC fighter pay, calling her ungrateful. Chimaev stated there would be no Ronda without the UFC and questioned how much she earned as an Olympic medalist before joining the promotion. The post also mentioned Chimaev released another training clip showing him sparring with Brendan Allen. Additionally, the digest included brief notes that Michael Morales posted a photo with Hunter Campbell indicating paperwork is ready, Jan Blachowicz had successful knee surgery, and Arman Tsarukyan claimed RAF's value increased from 15 million to 110 million after three of his fights.
Khamzat Chimaev took aim at Ronda Rousey on social media, pushing back against the former UFC champion's recent complaints about fighter pay and calling her ungrateful toward the promotion that made her a household name.
Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, has built one of the most dominant records in the sport at 15-1-0. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center is one of the most feared fighters in the world, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. In his post, he argued that Rousey's fame and financial success were products of the UFC platform, pointedly questioning how much she earned as an Olympic medalist before the organization elevated her profile.
Rousey, 39, finished her UFC career at 12-2-0 and remains one of the most significant figures in MMA history, credited with helping bring mainstream attention to women's combat sports. Her 4.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes and 6.26 takedowns per 15 minutes reflected a grappling-heavy style that dominated the early years of the women's bantamweight division.
Alongside the social media exchange, Chimaev released a training clip showing him sparring with Brendan Allen, the fifth-ranked middleweight contender. Allen, 30, fights out of Kill Cliff FC and carries a 26-7-0 record, landing 3.59 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy with solid grappling credentials of his own.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's public criticism of a UFC legend keeps the fighter-pay debate in the spotlight
- Sparring footage with Allen, a top-five middleweight, signals Chimaev remains active and sharp
- The exchange adds friction between current roster fighters and UFC alumni voices on compensation issues
