Khamzat Chimaev released another clip of his sparring session with Brendan Allen, continuing to share training footage. Chimaev also commented on Ronda Rousey's recent criticism of the UFC, defending the promotion and calling Rousey ungrateful. He stated: "There would be no Ronda without the UFC. This ingratitude pisses me off. When she was an Olympic champion, how much was she earning then?" In other news mentioned in the digest, Michael Morales posted a photo with Hunter Campbell with the caption "Papers ready," suggesting contract progress. Jan Blachowicz successfully underwent knee surgery, Arman Tsarukyan claimed that RAF's value increased from 15 million to 110 million after three of his fights, and Francis Ngannou discussed what he sees as the main mistake modern fighters make: fear of losing their contracts leading them to sign unfavorable deals.
Khamzat Chimaev continued his social media offensive this week, releasing additional sparring footage featuring middleweight contender Brendan Allen while also wading into the ongoing conversation around Ronda Rousey's public criticism of the UFC.
Chimaev, 32, is ranked first in the UFC middleweight division and carries a 15-1-0 record fighting out of Allstars Training Center under the UAE flag. Known for his suffocating wrestling — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — "Borz" has become one of the most physically imposing presences in the 185-pound weight class, also landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate.
Allen, his sparring partner in the clips, is no soft touch. The 30-year-old American ranked fifth at middleweight holds a 26-7-0 record and trains with Kill Cliff FC. He lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute and mixes in consistent grappling, averaging 1.56 takedowns and over one submission attempt per 15 minutes.
On the subject of Rousey, Chimaev was pointed in his defense of the promotion. Paraphrasing his remarks, the Swede-born fighter argued that the UFC was responsible for making Rousey a global star, questioning what she earned as an Olympic champion before the organization elevated her platform. He described the criticism as ingratitude.
Rousey, 39, finished her MMA career at 12-2-0 and was a foundational figure in building women's MMA into a mainstream product inside the octagon.
Why it matters
- Chimaev sharing repeated sparring footage with a top-five middleweight signals active preparation and potential targeting of divisional rivals
- His public comments on Rousey keep him in the news cycle between fights and reinforce his outspoken persona
- Allen's continued involvement in high-profile training camps underlines his standing as one of the division's most active and credible contenders
