Khamzat Chimaev responded to Ronda Rousey's recent criticism of the UFC by defending the promotion. Chimaev argued that Rousey would not have achieved her level of fame without the UFC's platform, questioning how much she earned as an Olympic medalist before joining MMA. He expressed frustration with what he perceives as ingratitude toward the organization. Additionally, Chimaev posted another sparring clip showing him working with Brendan Allen. Michael Morales also shared a photo with UFC executive Hunter Campbell, captioning it to suggest contract paperwork is ready.
Khamzat Chimaev publicly pushed back against Ronda Rousey after the former UFC bantamweight champion voiced criticism of the promotion, with the middleweight contender defending the organization and questioning what he sees as a lack of gratitude from Rousey.
Chimaev, 32, made the case that Rousey's global fame was built on the UFC's platform, arguing she would not have reached that level of recognition as an Olympic medalist without the organization's backing. The Swedish-born fighter, who competes out of the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1-0 record and currently sits ranked first in the middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate, and averages an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Rousey, now 39, holds a 12-2-0 professional record and was a transformative figure in the sport during her peak years, posting a remarkable 4.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout her career. Her Olympic pedigree in judo predated her MMA fame, but Chimaev argued that fame of her UFC-era scale would not have followed without the promotion's machinery behind it.
Separately, Chimaev posted sparring footage alongside number-five-ranked middleweight Brendan Allen, the 30-year-old Kill Cliff FC product who carries a 26-7-0 record and lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute with a 53 percent accuracy rate. The clip added further intrigue to the middleweight division's landscape heading into Chimaev's next move.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's public statements keep him in the spotlight while the division awaits clarity on his next opponent
- His sparring sessions with Allen, a top-five middleweight, hint at serious preparation underway
- Michael Morales separately posted a photo with UFC executive Hunter Campbell, suggesting a new contract may be imminent, adding further movement to the welterweight and middleweight picture
