Chimaev reportedly earned over $3 million, Strickland over $1 million at UFC 328

Unconfirmed reports emerging in the days after UFC 328 suggest that Khamzat Chimaev took home more than $3 million for his middleweight showdown on May 9, while champion Sean Strickland earned just over $1 million for the same contest. The figures, which have not been officially verified by the UFC, represent pre-tax purses — and reports note that Chimaev could owe roughly half of his earnings to tax authorities.

Sean Strickland, 35, enters the record books from that night as a middleweight champion carrying a 31-7-0 professional record. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. Despite reportedly earning the smaller purse, Strickland walked away with the result that matters most inside the cage.

Khamzat Chimaev, 32, came in as the No. 1-ranked middleweight and No. 10 on the pound-for-pound list, representing the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "Borz" carries a 15-1-0 record and is known for elite wrestling — averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — combined with a striking accuracy of 60 percent. The larger pay packet reflects his drawing power and profile heading into the fight, even though he did not leave with the victory.

Why it matters

• The reported pay gap underscores how fighter market value and promotional profile can outweigh competitive outcomes when purses are structured
• Chimaev remains the No. 1 middleweight contender at 15-1-0, keeping him firmly in the divisional picture despite the loss
• Strickland's champion status combined with a lower reported purse may fuel renewed debate around UFC pay transparency
• Neither figure carries official weight until the UFC or an athletic commission releases verified compensation disclosures