Speaking in New Jersey before Saturday's middleweight bout, Chimaev said he had never made this much money before and credited Strickland's insults for adding "zeroes" to his pay.
The UFC has kept the pair apart, using separate hotels and extra security before Thursday's press conference and Friday's weigh-ins amid intense hostility.
Chimaev said he had looked for Strickland, dismissed concern over an earlier shooting threat and suggested he was unlikely to reconcile after the fight.
Is Sean Strickland’s trash talk a master strategy to dethrone the champion, or has he just awakened a more dangerous Khamzat Chimaev?
With gun threats boosting profits, is the UFC promoting a championship fight or a public safety hazard ahead of Saturday's showdown?