Khamzat Chimaev Reveals Building $700K Worth Gyms for Chechen Villagers

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev explains why he does not pay heed to criticism as he earns enough money outside the UFC.

Khamzat Chimaev Reveals Building $700K Worth Gyms for Chechen Villagers

Khamzat Chimaev builds gym in Chechnya (via UFC)

Khamzat Chimaev has been dominant since his UFC debut in 2020, quickly emerging as one of the promotion’s most dangerous fighters. His rise saw him maintain a flawless record while achieving championship success, a rare feat accomplished by only a few in MMA history. Now at the peak of his career, Chimaev has revealed how he spent a portion of his earnings during the early phase of his journey.

The reigning 185lbs kingpin was born in the village of Gvardeyskoye in Chechnya, where he began freestyle wrestling at the age of five and found early success at the junior level. Growing up in a modest environment, he developed discipline through sport from a young age. At 18, he moved to Sweden, where he continued wrestling, won national titles, and later transitioned into mixed martial arts while working various jobs.

Chimaev joined the UFC in 2020 and quickly built a strong, impressive run, competing nine times in the promotion. He won the middleweight title with a dominant wrestling display against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. However, an injury has sidelined him since, leading to criticism of his inactivity. However, ‘Borz’ addressed this by stating that he earns significant income outside the UFC while continuing his career.

I don’t fight just for myself. People say I love money. Money gives you the ability to help others. I built a gym for kids in my village. Spent around $600–700 thousand. I help in other ways too, if someone in the village gets sick, they can call me and I’ll help. People say I have long layoffs, that I’m not active? I don’t care. I make millions. Those people just talk and do nothing. I don’t have time to talk about them. I’m happy with the money the UFC pays me. I’m living the dream. Outside of fighting, I make even more money because I built a name. Khamzat Chimaev. Wherever I go, people want to sponsor me, they want to do business with me.

Khamzat Chimaev via Beyond The Win podcast

Chimaev has become a hero in Chechnya, celebrated for rising from the village of Gvardeyskoye to global prominence in MMA. His championship success has brought pride to the region and inspired many young athletes. However, his visible connections with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov have drawn international criticism due to the politician’s controversial reputation and alleged human rights abuses.

Chimaev has explained his recent inactivity, highlighting multiple fight cancellations as major factors. Scheduled bouts against Leon Edwards and Robert Whittaker were postponed due to resurfacing injuries and COVID-19 complications. Even after UFC 319, a recurring foot injury required surgery, and observing the holy month of Ramadan from late February to March further delayed his return to competition.

Khamzat Chimaev is preparing for his return, set to face Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328. The bout is being promoted as a grudge match, stemming from their history as former teammates turned rivals, adding extra intensity to the showdown. This fight offers ‘Borz’ a chance to silence critics, reaffirm his dominance in the middleweight division, and mark a significant step in his long-awaited comeback.

Former UFC champion lays down a simple gameplan for Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328

After his dominant performance at UFC 319, many believed no fighter in the middleweight division could match Khamzat Chimaev’s prowess. His mix of wrestling, striking, and control left little doubt about his championship level. However, following his win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston in February 2026, Sean Strickland emerged as a credible contender, setting up their title clash at UFC 328.

Khamzat Chimaev's return in 2026
Khamzat Chimaev’s return in 2026 (via Instagram)

However, many in the MMA community initially believed Strickland would not struggle against Chimaev. Fighters like Dricus du Plessis and Joe Pyfer predicted that Strickland’s unorthodox style and striking could create problems for the Chechen champion. Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has since outlined a game plan for Chimaev to neutralize Strickland’s approach and maintain control.

If Khamzat relaxes, he wins this fight everywhere. He’s got the hands. He’s got to be able to change levels, you can’t just glue to Sean Strickland. You’ve got to get takedowns but not hold on to takedowns. You get your takedowns, you do your damage, and then you reassess the fight. You can’t commit to holding that guy down; he’s very hard to hold down. You’ve just got to relax, you know? He’s got the hands.

Luke Rockhold via JAXXON podcast

Luke Rockhold was once a rival of Khamzat Chimaev, frequently taking shots at ‘Borz’ on social media during their early interactions. However, the two have since developed a strong friendship and now train together as partners. While the former champion is fully aware of Chimaev’s strength and power, he remains focused on ensuring his teammate does not have any gaps in his game ahead of UFC 328.

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