Khamzat Chimaev responded to recent criticism from Ronda Rousey directed at the UFC, calling her ungrateful. Chimaev stated there would be no Ronda without UFC and questioned how much she earned as an Olympic champion before joining the promotion. He also posted another clip of his sparring session with Brendan Allen. Additionally, Chimaev is reportedly undergoing special recovery treatments every evening. The post was part of a roundup that also mentioned Jan Blachowicz's successful knee surgery and Francis Ngannou discussing contractual issues preventing fighters from accepting lucrative Netflix fight offers.
Khamzat Chimaev has taken aim at Ronda Rousey after the former UFC bantamweight champion made critical remarks about the promotion, publicly labeling her ungrateful for the platform the UFC provided her.
Chimaev, the 32-year-old UAE-based middleweight currently ranked first in his division with a 15-1 record, argued that Rousey's career would not have reached its heights without the UFC. He questioned how much she earned as an Olympic-level competitor before joining the promotion, suggesting the organization was central to building her global profile. The Allstars Training Center product is also reportedly undergoing nightly recovery treatments, and he shared an additional clip of a sparring session with fellow middleweight Brendan Allen.
Rousey, now 39, finished her UFC career at 12-2 and remains one of the most recognizable names the sport has ever produced. Standing five-foot-seven with a 66-inch reach, she was a dominant force in the bantamweight division, averaging 4.17 significant strikes landed per minute alongside an exceptional 4.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a rate that underlined her reputation as a finisher.
Allen, ranked fifth at middleweight, brings his own credentials to those sparring sessions. The 30-year-old Kill Cliff FC product carries a 26-7 record and lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy, while also contributing on the grappling side with 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments extend a public dispute between fighters and UFC management over compensation and contractual terms
- The sparring footage with Allen keeps the top-ranked middleweight visible while he undergoes his recovery program
- The broader roundup also touched on Francis Ngannou discussing contract restrictions blocking fighters from Netflix fight opportunities, adding to an ongoing conversation about fighter autonomy
