
Khamzat Chimaev has called for a boxing match with Conor McGregor, claiming it would be more lucrative than his upcoming fight with Sean Strickland. He emphasized that financial gain is his primary motivation in the sport.
Mentioned in this story
BENSENVILLE, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 07: UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev speaks during the 'Faith of a Champion' live interview event on February 7, 2026, at Monty's Elegant Banquets in Bensenville, Illinois. As part of his 2026 USA speaking tour in partnership with the Human Development Fund (HDF), the undefeated fighter shared insights on his journey from refugee to world-class athlete, focusing on the intersection of faith, mental discipline, and his rise to the top of the mixed martial arts world. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Khamzat Chimaev has some interesting ideas on what heâd like to do after beating Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9th in Newark, New Jersey.
During a media scrum in the Jaxxon Podcast warehouse, a chilled out Chimaev softly discussed what motivated him these days, and a lot of his answers came down to money. He claimed not to care about the middleweight title he now holds, and suggested fame and prestige has nothing on
Khamzat Chimaev wants to fight Conor McGregor because he believes it would offer better financial rewards than his upcoming match against Sean Strickland.
Khamzat Chimaev's fight with Sean Strickland is scheduled for May 9th at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.
Khamzat Chimaev has stated that he does not care about the middleweight title and prioritizes financial gain over fame and prestige.
Khamzat Chimaev has expressed a strong desire for financial success, indicating that he loves the millions that come from fighting.


Carrick highlights the significance of Man Utd vs Liverpool rivalry

De Zerbi insists Spurs aren't relegated yet despite struggles

El Real Madrid cierra una temporada sin tĂtulos, una situaciĂłn no nueva para el club.
Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp set for May 8-9, 2026
Washington Nationals have signed Max Kranick, a former Mets reliever, to a minor league deal.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
âHow you canât love the millions?â Chimaev asked. âIf youâre human, you should love the money.â
And in that quest for money, Chimaev suggested heâd like to face Conor McGregor in a boxing match down the road.
âProbably would be Zuffa Boxing with Conor [McGregor],â he said when asked if any goal would get him excited. âMaybe that one. We just box. Iâm not gonna move over to the boxing. I will forever be a UFC fighter. But maybe if Zuffa gives a chance, box with Conor. If Conor want to accept that, would be nice.â
When asked if he thought the UFC and parent company TKO would allow it, Chimaev simply smiled and said, âWhy not?â
âWeâre going to work on [the boxing],â he added. âRight now weâre working on MMA. But weâre going to go for the boxing match. Gonna work just on that. Working. All the time. Every day. Boxing. MMA.â
âConor is a good boxer, one of the best boxers in the UFC. It would be nice to try it. Go there, fight that guy. Good money, too. Better than Sean Strickland.â
Chimaev is set to make UFC champion money, probably somewhere between three and ten million per fight. Thatâs nothing to sneeze at, but even the top paid guys in the UFC dream of being plucked from the MMA rotation and dropped into boxing where they can be showered in real money.
Zuffa Boxing has access to Saudi money and theyâre not afraid to spend it, as proven by Conor Bennâs recent $15 million payday for a forgettable match on the undercard of Tyson Furyâs comeback. Fury reportedly made $25 million that night against soft rebound Arslanbek Makhmudov, still a far cry from the $80 to $100 million heâs commanded per fight in the past.
Conor McGregor also made around $100 million when he fought Floyd Mayweather. So keep that number in mind when you hear Khamzat Chimaev ask to box McGregor. Does a fight between the two make sense? No. McGregor did his best work at featherweight, while Chimaev is on the verge of light heavyweight. McGregor is old and on his way out, while Chimaev is in his prime. The whole thing sound silly ⊠unless youâre Khamzat and only care about the number on your paycheck.
âWhen I saw [the McGregor vs. Aldo] fight and heard how much money he made, thatâs when I got motivated to start MMA,â Khamzat said.