Being one of the most feared contenders in the UFC middleweight division isn’t a matter of luck; it’s about dominance. Khamzat Chimaev has dominated his opponents with a combination of relentless grappling and deadly finishing power. His rapid ascension from UFC newbie in 2020 to the middleweight champion headlining a numbered event in just a few years proves how quickly ‘Borz’ has transformed raw skill into stardom.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

On May 9, the undefeated phenom will return to face his bitter rival Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The rivalry has been boiling between them, and the fight could turn out to be highly competitive despite the Chechen-Emirati’s dominant run. But before the 32-year-old engages in a bad-blood battle this weekend, his finances, especially his career earnings and net worth, have become a major topic of interest.

What is Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth?

Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth in 2026 is estimated to be somewhere between $3 million and $4 million. That is an impressive amount for a fighter who has only been in the UFC for only five years. Much of it comes from his fight purses, but ‘Borz’ has wisely increased his earnings outside of the Octagon with sponsorship deals, lifestyle partnerships, and even long-term investing initiatives.

ADVERTISEMENT

With the mystery surrounding Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth cleared, let’s shift our attention to his overall UFC career payout.

Khamzat Chimaev’s career earnings 

When Chimaev made his UFC debut in 2020, his fight purses were modest. His first win over John Phillips netted him $86,000, and just ten days later, he earned $115,000 for defeating Rhys McKee. Early fights against Gerald Meerschaert and Li Jingliang kept him in the $150,000-$200,000 bracket, bolstered by some really consistent $50,000 performance bonuses.  

ADVERTISEMENT

The true breakthrough came at UFC 279 against Kevin Holland, when ‘Borz’ earned just over $1 million, his first seven-figure payday. But his biggest payday came at UFC 294 against Kamaru Usman, where he received around $2.36 million in total, including base pay, win bonus, performance incentives, and PPV shares. That bout was the tipping moment that catapulted ‘Borz’ from prospect to headliner, bringing in superstar money.

ADVERTISEMENT

More recently, his impressive first-round submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 earned him around $1.05 million, cementing his place among the UFC’s top earners. The Chechen-Emirati’s payout for beating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 for the middleweight title hasn’t been disclosed, but he likely earned somewhere between $2 and $3 million. 

Khamzat Chimaev

Imago

Additionally, Khamzat has earned 7 total post-fight bonuses under the ESPN era, which brings it to an extra $350k ($50k each) in his bank account. Now, since we have an idea about the reigning middleweight champ’s career payouts, let’s take a look at his pro MMA career.

ADVERTISEMENT

A closer look at Chimaev’s professional MMA career  

The Chechen made his professional debut back in 2018 and performed in many local events. However, Khamzat Chimaev first caught fans’ attention during his run in BRAVE CF. After he went 5-0 with a 100% finish rate, the momentum was enough for the UFC brass to take notice and sign him.

Khamzat debuted against John Phillips in the middleweight division at a UFC Fight Night event in 2020, making a statement with a second-round submission win. Following his debut, Chimaev went on to beat Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert, and Li Jingliang, all by first-round finishes. Then came one of the most competitive fights of his career.

ADVERTISEMENT

At UFC 273 in 2022, ‘Borz’ faced Gilbert Burns in a welterweight bout that turned into a brutal scrap. Though he won the clash via unanimous decision, the Brazilian managed to inflict severe damage on him. Next fight, however, was one of the most controversial fights of Chimaev’s career. The reigning middleweight champion came in 7.5 pounds over the welterweight limit for his fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 279, which forced a drastic shift in the card. The UFC moved Chimaev to the co-main event in a 180-pound catchweight bout against Kevin Holland.

The weight class changed, but Chimaev’s dominance remained the same as he submitted Holland with a D’Arce choke just two minutes into the first round. After that fight, the 32-year-old made a permanent shift to middleweight and had another strong test against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.

In the new weight class, Chimaev remained a problem when he cracked Robert Whittaker’s jaw at UFC 308. And that victory earned him a title shot against then-champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. Fans assumed the clash would be competitive, but once again ‘Borz’ did what he does best: dominating and controlling his opponent across five rounds to win the middleweight strap. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Khamzat Chimaev

Imago

So, as we could observe, Khamzat Chimaev’s career has been incredibly dominant, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that sponsors flocked to him quickly.

Khamzat Chimaev’s brand endorsements 

The middleweight champ’s brand partnerships reflect both his fighting spirit and his own flair. The 32-year-old is endorsed by Smilodox, a fitness clothing company; Superz Budapest, a perfume brand; YOFLEET, a car rental service; Pain Pen, which focuses on pain management; and Dragon Energy, a combat sports-friendly energy drink. 

ADVERTISEMENT

These collaborations not only raise his net worth but also help to promote his personal brand as a global athlete. Chimaev has also made strategic investments, like placing his Gilbert Burns fight bonus into Blockasset, a blockchain-based sports investment platform, and signing a 10-year contract with Royaltiz, which allows fans to invest directly in his career.

Plus, he also earns from the UFC’s compliance pay, which the promotion gives fighters for doing brand promotions for its official partner, Venum. With all that and more, Khamzat Chimaev definitely earns quite a decent amount of money. 

ADVERTISEMENT

What cars does Khamzat Chimaev own? 

For those unaware, Khamzat Chimaev owns several high-end vehicles, including a Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes-AMG G63, and Ferrari California. Alongside ‘Borz’, other fighters like Israel Adesanya also possess an awesome car collection.  However, he has also been involved in philanthropic work, particularly in his native Chechnya, which contributes to his reputation as more than just a fighter.

That said, with UFC 328 around the corner, Chimaev is expected to earn even more and possibly add more luxury items to his collection if he can successfully get past Sean Strickland with a performance bonus-winning outing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

Written by

author-image

Abhishek Kumar Das

3,384 Articles

Abhishek Kumar Das is a Senior Combat Sports writer at EssentiallySports, known for his sharp extensive coverage of the UFC and WWE. Specializing as the go-to expert on Joe Rogan, Abhishek provides nuanced reporting on the evolving discourse surrounding Rogan’s influence on combat sports and its intersection with American politics. Over the past three years, he has built a reputation for delivering timely breaking news and thoughtful analysis, often exploring off-court drama and current affairs tied to the fight world. Before joining EssentiallySports, Abhishek honed his writing skills through various freelance projects and content writing internships with multiple media outlets. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs and has additional certifications in Digital Marketing and content strategies. He also possesses proficiency in Spanish language and literature. His work, blending creative content with strong editorial skills, has made him a respected figure across fight journalism circles and a key voice among American combat sports fans.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Gokul Pillai