Khamzat Chimaev Says Next Fight After Sean Strickland Bout Will Depend on UFC Pay

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev weighs in on his future after his first title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328.

Khamzat Chimaev Says Next Fight After Sean Strickland Bout Will Depend on UFC Pay

Khamzat Chimaev talks about future in the UFC (via Irish Star, UFC)

In Short
  • Khamzat Chimaev's next fight after UFC 328 will depend on UFC pay and financial terms.
  • He has a net worth estimated between $4 million and $5 million from fights and endorsements.
  • Chimaev values real brotherhood and will not fight training partner Khalil Rountree Jr.

Khamzat Chimaev has undoubtedly become one of the UFC’s biggest stars in recent years, largely due to the dominance he has displayed inside the octagon. The undefeated champion is now preparing to cement his status at the top of the sport as he gets set to face Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Ahead of the matchup, Chimaev also weighed in on the factors that could determine his future in the promotion.

Chimaev has also become one of the richest UFC champions on the current roster following his rapid rise in the promotion. Reports have estimated his net worth at $4 million to $5 million, derived from fight purses, bonuses, and sponsorship deals. ‘Borz’ has secured endorsements with brands such as Blockasset, Venum, and Crypto.com, while reports suggested he earned close to $2 million from UFC 319 alone.

Chimaev is now preparing for a grudge match against former teammate Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in one of the most anticipated fights of the year. The bout will also serve as his first title defense after he was sidelined for months due to a knee injury. Ahead of the matchup, he recently addressed the factors surrounding his future in the UFC and revealed that financial terms could influence his next move.

I don’t know what UFC wants. I’m one of the workers in the office, so I don’t know what they want. We’ll see… If they pay more, I’m gonna go up, If they pay more to stay, I’m gonna stay.

Khamzat Chimaev via UFC on Paramount

Chimaev also mentioned the possibility of moving up in weight, having discussed the light heavyweight division several times in the past. The Chechen superstar repeatedly called out former champion Alex Pereira during his reign at 205 pounds and showed interest in a future super fight. However, Pereira has since moved to heavyweight, a division Chimaev has previously considered facing ‘Poatan’ in.

Chimaev has also signed with Real American Freestyle, which has quickly gained major attention since its launch into the combat sports world. Despite the announcement, the undefeated UFC champion is still waiting for his official debut with the promotion to be confirmed. However, Chimaev has already called out Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kyle Snyder for a potential matchup in the organization.

Khamzat Chimaev has consistently maintained that he does not depend entirely on fight purses and earns enough through ventures outside the octagon. However, the Chechen superstar has also stated that he deserves to be paid his true worth whenever he steps inside the cage. His recent comments about a potential move to a different weight class appeared to reflect the same mindset regarding his UFC future.

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Khamzat Chimaev highlights his relationship with top UFC light heavyweight

Khamzat Chimaev is currently training heavily for his upcoming title defense at UFC 328 as he prepares for one of the biggest fights of his career. While the undefeated Chechen star previously trained in Sweden and Las Vegas, Chimaev has now found a home at Santo Studios in Southern California. The Chechen superstar also works on his conditioning under renowned coach Sam Calavitta at Treigning Lab

Khamzat Chimaev training with Khalil Rountree Jr
Khamzat Chimaev training with Khalil Rountree Jr (via Instagram)

At Santo Studios, Chimaev has trained alongside several UFC fighters and veterans, including close friends Luke Rockhold and Arman Tsarukyan. However, one of his most consistent training partners has remained Khalil Rountree Jr. over recent years. As Chimaev continues considering a move to the light heavyweight division after UFC 328, he recently opened up about his relationship with Rountree.

I’m never gonna fight Khalil. If I’m brother with you, I’m real brother. Don’t do that like Sean does he calls you brother one day and second day he fights you I can’t do that. I wanna be real.

Khamzat Chimaev via UFC

Despite competing at middleweight, Khamzat Chimaev has repeatedly been seen dominating Khalil Rountree Jr. and other larger opponents during training sessions. Rountree himself has also acknowledged the difficulty of sparring with the Chechen superstar. The undefeated UFC champion has continued to showcase his physical strength and aggressive wrestling against naturally bigger opponents.

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