Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev remains one of the most talked-about names in the UFC middleweight division, even after suffering his first professional loss in May 2026. Here’s everything publicly verified about the man, the fighter, and the businessman heading into late 2026.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev |
| Nickname | “Borz” |
| Date of Birth | May 1, 1994 |
| Age | 32 years |
| Birthplace | Gvardeyskoye, Chechen Republic, Russia |
| Religion | Islam (Sunni Muslim) |
| Nationality | Russian-Emirati |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Reach | 75 in (190 cm) |
| Gym / Team | Allstars Training Center (Stockholm); Fight Club Akhmat |
| Professional Debut | May 26, 2018, vs. Gard Olve Sagen |
| Current Ranking | #1–2 UFC Middleweight contender; #12 UFC Men’s Pound-for-Pound |
| MMA Record | 15-1-0 (6 KO, 6 Submissions, 3 Decisions) |
| Net Worth | $4–5 million |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | Private (married May 21, 2022) |
| Children | One son |
| @khamzat_chimaev |
Early Career
Born in Gvardeyskoye, Chechnya, in 1994, Chimaev started wrestling at age five and later became a three-time Swedish national freestyle champion after emigrating to Sweden in 2013.
Inspired by Conor McGregor’s knockout of José Aldo, he switched to MMA in 2017, turning pro in 2018 and going 6-0 in regional promotions before signing with the UFC in 2020.
Professional Career
Chimaev’s UFC run began in July 2020 with three finishes in just 66 days across two weight classes, an instant sensation despite a serious COVID-19 setback that followed.
He beat Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman, and Robert Whittaker before capturing the UFC Middleweight Championship against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025.
He lost that title in his first defense to Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 328 in May 2026. Since then, he’s competed in Real American Freestyle wrestling, beating Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley, and Gilbert Burns in a rematch.
Family
Chimaev is married, having wed in Chechnya on May 21, 2022, in a ceremony attended by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
He has never publicly named or shown his wife, keeping her identity completely private despite his massive fame — a deliberate boundary he’s maintained for years.
The couple has one son, born around 2023. Beyond that, no further details about his wife or any additional children are publicly available.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth is estimates $4-$5 million. His fortune comes primarily from UFC fight purses, pay-per-view bonuses as a former champion, and a growing list of sponsorship deals that he’s said now pay more than his fight purses.
Fight Purses
| Fight | Opponent | Estimated Purse |
| UFC 319 (2025) | Dricus du Plessis | ~$1.8 million |
| UFC 294 (2023) | Kamaru Usman | ~$2.35 million (incl. PPV points) |
| UFC 308 (2024) | Robert Whittaker | ~$1.05 million |
| UFC 279 (2022) | Kevin Holland | Over $1 million |
| UFC 328 (2026) | Sean Strickland | N/A |
| Early UFC bouts (2020) | John Phillips, Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert | 80,000–115,000 per bout |
Career Earnings
| Event / Fight | Year | Estimated Earnings | Notes |
| UFC Fight Night vs. John Phillips (debut) | 2020 | ~$86,000 | Submission win, UFC debut |
| UFC Fight Night vs. Rhys McKee | 2020 | ~$115,000 | Second win in 10 days |
| UFC Fight Night vs. Gerald Meerschaert | 2020 | ~150,000–200,000 | Included performance bonus |
| UFC 267 vs. Li Jingliang | 2021 | ~150,000–200,000 | Included performance bonus |
| UFC 273 vs. Gilbert Burns | 2022 | N/A | Purse undisclosed |
| UFC 279 vs. Kevin Holland | 2022 | ~$1,000,000+ | First seven-figure payday |
| UFC 294 vs. Kamaru Usman | 2023 | ~$2,360,000 | Base pay + win bonus + PPV share |
| UFC 308 vs. Robert Whittaker | 2024 | ~$1,050,000 | Includes performance bonus |
| UFC 319 vs. Dricus du Plessis (title win) | 2025 | Est. 2,000,000–3,000,000 | Official figure undisclosed |
| UFC 328 vs. Sean Strickland (title loss) | 2026 | N/A | Purse undisclosed |
| Performance-of-the-Night Bonuses (career total) | 2020–2026 | ~$350,000 | 7 bonuses × $50,000 |
| Estimated Total Career Fight Earnings | 2020–2026 | $8 million+ (pre-tax, gross) | Excludes sponsorships & endorsements |
Endorsements
Chimaev has built a sponsorship portfolio that includes brands like Smilodox, Venum, Dragon Energy, YoFleet, Pain Pen, and Superz Budapest.
He’s stated multiple times that companies regularly approach him for partnerships, and that these outside deals have become a bigger earner than his actual fight purses.
His crossover appeal, driven by his undefeated run and title win, made him one of the more marketable middleweights in the sport even after his 2026 title loss.
Championships & Achievements
| Achievement | Detail |
| UFC Middleweight Championship | Won once (Aug 2025 vs. du Plessis); lost May 2026 |
| Performance of the Night | 6 times |
| Fight of the Night | 1 time (vs. Gilbert Burns) |
| Fastest 3-Fight Win Streak (Modern UFC) | 66 days |
| Fastest Consecutive UFC Wins | 10 days |
| First Chechen-born UFC Champion | Historic first |
| 3x Swedish National Wrestling Champion | 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| First UAE-flagged UFC Champion | Historic first |
| Fastest Pin in RAF History | 44 seconds (vs. Dillon Danis) |
Fight Record
| Result | Opponent | Event | Date |
| Loss | Sean Strickland | UFC 328 | May 9, 2026 |
| Win | Dricus du Plessis | UFC 319 | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Win | Robert Whittaker | UFC 308 | Oct 26, 2024 |
| Win | Kamaru Usman | UFC 294 | Oct 21, 2023 |
| Win | Kevin Holland | UFC 279 | Sep 10, 2022 |
| Win | Gilbert Burns | UFC 273 | Apr 9, 2022 |
| Win | Li Jingliang | UFC 267 | Oct 30, 2021 |
FAQs
1. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s current UFC record?
Chimaev holds a professional MMA record of 15 wins and 1 loss, with 9 of those wins coming inside the UFC. His only defeat came at UFC 328 in May 2026, a split decision to Sean Strickland.
2. Where was Khamzat Chimaev born and what is his ethnicity?
He was born on May 1, 1994, in Gvardeyskoye, a village in the Chechen Republic (then part of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, now Russia). He is ethnically Chechen and was raised in a conservative Muslim family.
3. What country does Khamzat Chimaev represent now?
Chimaev represents the United Arab Emirates, having become an Emirati citizen in January 2025. He still describes Russia as his “motherland” and holds a Russian passport, calling himself a citizen who represents both.
4. Did Khamzat Chimaev live in Sweden?
Yes. He emigrated to Sweden with his mother in 2013 at age 18-19 to join his older brother, and it was there that he began his mixed martial arts career. He was never granted Swedish citizenship, despite competing under the Swedish flag early in his career.
5. What does Chimaev’s nickname “Borz” mean?
“Borz” means “wolf” in the Chechen language, a nickname reflecting both his ethnic heritage and his aggressive fighting persona.
6. Is Khamzat Chimaev the UFC middleweight champion?
No, not currently. He won the undisputed UFC middleweight title in August 2025 by dominating then-champion Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision (50-44 on all three scorecards) at UFC 319, but he lost the belt by split decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May 2026.
7. How did Khamzat Chimaev lose his middleweight title?
He lost it to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, in May 2026, dropping a five-round split decision to end his 15-fight unbeaten start to his professional career.
8. What is Khamzat Chimaev’s fighting style?
Chimaev is primarily a wrestling-based grappler, using freestyle wrestling to secure takedowns and then smothering opponents with top control and ground-and-pound. His grappling has drawn comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov, though he also possesses notable knockout power, having finished UFC veteran Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds with a single punch.
9. Does Khamzat Chimaev have a wrestling background?
Yes, he started wrestling at age five in his home village and became a three-time Swedish national freestyle wrestling champion before transitioning to professional MMA in 2018.
10. How dominant was Chimaev’s title-winning performance at UFC 319?
Extremely one-sided. Chimaev outlanded Dricus du Plessis roughly 510-56 (some sources cite 529-45) in total strikes over five rounds and controlled nearly 22 minutes of ground time, producing one of the most lopsided championship fights in UFC history, even as some fans booed the grinding style.