Khamzat Chimaev recently addressed Ronda Rousey’s critiques of the UFC’s business practices, stating that her success was largely a product of the promotion.
With her return to mixed martial arts imminent for an upcoming event on May 16, where she will face Gina Carano in a featherweight bout, Rousey has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with how fighters are compensated and supported by her former employer, the UFC. She has consistently highlighted issues related to fighter pay.
Rousey noted that fighters on the May 16 event will receive a guaranteed minimum of $40,000, with similar pay structures anticipated for future events. This stands in contrast to the widely reported entry-level UFC fighter pay of $10,000 to show and an additional $10,000 to win.
Khamzat Chimaev Dismisses Ronda Rousey’s Concerns About UFC Fighter Pay
In a recent video blog marking the launch of his YouTube channel, UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev commented on Rousey’s remarks about the promotion’s fighter pay. While the specific trigger for his comments wasn’t detailed, Chimaev suggested that Rousey’s significant fame and financial achievements were heavily influenced by the UFC’s role in elevating her to global stardom.
“Ronda Rousey would not exist without the UFC,” Chimaev stated in his YouTube video. “I don’t like this. Whether they pay well or not, who cares? What did she earn when she was an Olympic champion?”
Similar to Rousey, Chimaev is also preparing for a return to action next month. He is scheduled to make the first defense of his middleweight championship against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9.
Chimaev’s last fight was at UFC 319 in August 2025, where he secured the 185-pound title with a decisive unanimous decision victory over Dricus Du Plessis.
English Translation:
Khamzat Chimaev Hits Out At Ronda Rousey Over Her UFC Pay Critique With Blunt Response: “Who Cares?”
Khamzat Chimaev recently took a swipe at Ronda Rousey over her criticism of how the UFC conducts its business.
“Rowdy” is set to end her near decade-long absence from MMA when she faces fellow veteran Gina Carano in a five-round featherweight bout booked as the main event of Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) debut MMA show on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The card will also mark the first live MMA event to be streamed on Netflix.
With her return on the horizon, Ronda Rousey has repeatedly taken aim at her former promoters in the UFC, openly criticizing how fighters are compensated and supported. Much of her frustration has been directed at pay issues, as she has made it a point to call out the promotion at every opportunity.
The UFC Hall of Famer also revealed that fighters competing on the MVP MMA card on May 16 will earn a guaranteed minimum of $40,000, with similar pay structures expected for future events. In contrast, entry-level UFC fighters are still widely reported to earn $10,000 to show and an additional $10,000 to win.
Khamzat Chimaev Brushes Off Ronda Rousey’s UFC Fighter Pay Criticism
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev recently launched his YouTube channel, with his first video centered on preparations for his upcoming fight while also taking a moment to address Ronda Rousey’s recent criticism of the promotion.
While it wasn’t clear what prompted the discussion, “Borz” suggested that Rousey owes much of her success to the UFC, arguing that she likely wouldn’t have reached the same level of fame or financial success without the promotion elevating her into a global star during her tenure in the organization.
“There never would have been Ronda Rousey without the UFC,” Chimaev said in a new video blog posted to his YouTube channel. “I hate this. If they pay good or they don’t pay good, who cares? When she was Olympic champ, what did she make then?”
Like Rousey, Chimaev is also gearing up for a return next month, where he will make the first defense of his middleweight title against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328, set for May 9 at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey.
“Borz” was last seen in action at UFC 319 in August 2025, where he captured the 185-pound title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Dricus Du Plessis.
