Khamzat Chimaev, known as “Borz,” has taken the MMA world by storm with his undefeated record and brutal wrestling style. As the current UFC Middleweight Champion in 2026, he’s one of the most feared fighters out there right now.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Khamzat Chimaev |
| Nickname | Borz |
| Date of Birth | May 1, 1994 |
| Age | 31 years |
| Birthplace | Chechnya, Russia |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Nationality | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Height | 6’2″ (188 cm) |
| Weight Class | Middleweight (183 lbs / 83 kg) |
| Reach | 6’3″ (190 cm) |
| Gym / Team | Akhmat Fight Club, Dubai |
| Professional Debut | May 26, 2018 |
| Current Ranking | UFC Middleweight Champion |
| MMA Record | 15-0-0 (6 KO/TKO, 6 SUB, 3 DEC) |
| Net Worth | Over $5 million |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Wife (name not public) |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @khamzat_chimaev |
Chimaev keeps his family life super private, focusing more on fights than personal posts. His Instagram mostly shows training clips and fight hype. No kids mentioned anywhere reliable as of 2026.
Early Career
Khamzat Chimaev started wrestling young in Chechnya before moving to Sweden at 19. He won Swedish freestyle titles and went 3-0 amateur with TKOs and subs. Turned pro in 2018 with a TKO win over Gard Olve Sagen in Sweden. Racked up quick finishes in Fight Club Rush and Brave CF, going 7-0 with 6 stoppages before UFC. Built hype with insane pace and grappling.
Professional Career
Chimaev exploded into UFC in 2020, winning three fights in 10 days—submitting John Phillips, TKOing Rhys McKee, and KOing Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds. Beat Li Jingliang via rear-naked choke, then decisions over Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland at catchweight.
Took majority decision over Kamaru Usman at 185 in 2023, subbed Robert Whittaker in 2024, and dominated Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision at UFC 319 in August 2025 to claim the middleweight title with 21+ minutes control time. Streak hit 15-0; he’s out until after Ramadan 2026 due to foot surgery.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth sits over $5 million. This comes from massive UFC paydays like $2.35M vs. Usman and PPV shares, plus title fight bonuses from beating du Plessis. Early estimates were $1M+ in 2024, but champ status and streaks boosted it big time with win bonuses and hype.
Fight Purses
| Fight | Purse (USD) |
| vs. Whittaker (UFC 308) | $1,271,000 |
| vs. Usman (UFC 294) | $2,356,000 |
| vs. Holland (UFC 279) | $1,006,000 |
| vs. Burns (UFC 273) | $384,500 |
| vs. Jingliang (UFC 267) | $235,500 |
| vs. du Plessis (UFC 319, Title) | Est. $3M+ (base + PPV + bonus) |
These are disclosed purses including base pay, win bonuses, and PPV points where reported. Title fights like du Plessis likely hit higher with undisclosed PPV cuts. Earlier fights paid around $80K-$150K base. Total UFC earnings top $8M+.
Career Earnings
| Period/Event | Total Earnings (USD) |
| Pre-UFC (2017-2019) | ~$50,000 (est.) |
| UFC Debut Year (2020) | $294,000 |
| 2021-2022 Fights | $1.6M |
| UFC 294 (Usman) | $2.35M |
| UFC 308 (Whittaker) | $1.27M |
| UFC 319 Title Win | $3M+ (est.) |
| Career UFC Total | $8M+ |
Breakdown shows escalation from $80K debuts to multi-millions as PPV main events. Includes Performance/Fight of the Night bonuses (9 total). No full 2026 post-title figures yet due to surgery break.
Endorsements
Khamzat Chimaev pulls in solid endorsement cash from brands like Dragon Energy Drink, LIT ENERGY, PainPen, Smilodox, Superz Budapest, YOFLEET, and RDX Sports—his biggest deal via Bulldog Sports Agency. These cover energy drinks, medical devices, clothing, cosmetics, e-commerce, fragrances, and rentals. As champ with 7M+ Instagram followers, he earns six figures yearly from ambassadorships, posting training gear and promos. Deals ramped up post-UFC streak, adding 20-30% to his fight income.
Championships & Achievements
| Achievement | Details / Date |
| UFC Middleweight Champion | Won vs. du Plessis, UFC 319, Aug 2025 |
| Performance of the Night | 7 times (e.g., Whittaker, Jingliang, Meerschaert) |
| Fight of the Night | vs. Burns, UFC 273, 2022 |
| Fastest UFC Turnaround | 10 days (Phillips/McKee, 2020) |
| Most Control Time in UFC Title Fight | 21:40 vs. du Plessis |
| Undefeated Streak | 15-0 (as of 2026) |
| Swedish Freestyle Wrestling Titles | Multiple pre-MMA |
Fight Record
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Event | Notes |
| 2025-08-16 | Dricus du Plessis | Win | DEC (U) R5 | UFC 319 | Won UFC MW Title |
| 2024-10-26 | Robert Whittaker | Win | SUB R1 3:34 | UFC 308 | Face Crank, POTN |
| 2023-10-21 | Kamaru Usman | Win | DEC (Maj) R3 | UFC 294 | MW debut return |
| 2022-09-10 | Kevin Holland | Win | SUB R1 2:13 | UFC 279 (180lbs) | Brabo Choke |
| 2022-04-09 | Gilbert Burns | Win | DEC (U) R3 | UFC 273 | FOTN |
| 2021-10-30 | Li Jingliang | Win | SUB R1 3:16 | UFC 267 | RNC, POTN |
| 2020-09-19 | Gerald Meerschaert | Win | KO R1 0:17 | UFC FN: Covington | Record KO |
FAQs
1. Who is Khamzat Chimaev?
Khamzat Chimaev is a Russian-Emirati professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC Middleweight division, where he holds the current championship title. Born on May 1, 1994, in Gvardeyskoye, Chechnya, Russia, he is of Chechen ethnicity and remains undefeated with a 15-0 professional MMA record. He trains at Allstars Training Center and is known for his freestyle wrestling background.
2. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s MMA record?
Chimaev boasts a perfect 15-0 professional record, with 6 wins by knockout, 6 by submission, and 3 by decision. In the UFC, he is 9-0, including notable victories over Robert Whittaker, Kamaru Usman, and Gilbert Burns. His amateur record stands at 3-0.
3. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s nickname and its meaning?
His nickname “Borz” translates to “wolf” in Chechen, symbolizing a ferocious animal that rules its territory fiercely. The wolf is also Chechnya’s national animal, reflecting his proud heritage. He has used it prominently since his UFC debut.
4. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s nationality?
Chimaev holds Russian citizenship by birth in Chechnya, now part of Russia, but emigrated to Sweden at 18 where he gained fame. He later obtained Emirati citizenship, fights under the UAE flag, and represents multiple nations without a Swedish passport.
5. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s fighting style?
Chimaev employs elite freestyle wrestling for explosive takedowns, combined with unpredictable striking, suffocating pressure, and seamless grappling-striking integration. His style overwhelms opponents psychologically and physically, as seen in 12-of-17 takedowns against Dricus du Plessis.
6. When did Khamzat Chimaev win the UFC Middleweight title?
He captured the UFC Middleweight Championship via unanimous decision over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, in Chicago. The five-round bout earned Performance of the Night honors after dominating with superior wrestling control.
7. What are some of Khamzat Chimaev’s biggest UFC wins?
Key victories include a first-round face crank submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 (2024), majority decision over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 (2023), and a 17-second KO of Gerald Meerschaert in 2020. He also submitted Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang early.
8. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling background?
Chimaev earned a bronze at Russian junior nationals and won three Swedish national freestyle wrestling championships in welterweight and middleweight. He dominated tournaments with scores like 10-0 repeatedly, transitioning seamlessly to MMA grappling dominance.
9. Has Khamzat Chimaev dealt with injuries?
Yes, he suffered a torn ligament in his right hand during his UFC 294 win over Usman in 2023, requiring a brace but no surgery. Multiple illnesses and health setbacks have caused fight cancellations, yet he maintains an undefeated streak upon returns.
10. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s height and weight?
Chimaev stands at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and fights at middleweight around 183-185 lbs (83 kg). His orthodox stance and reach advantage complement his wrestling-heavy approach in the UFC division.