The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. This marks Chimaev's entry into competitive wrestling outside of MMA. The announcement was made following the RAF08 event. No specific opponents or match dates were mentioned in the initial announcement. This move allows Chimaev to compete in his wrestling background while maintaining his MMA career.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, bringing the UFC middleweight contender into competitive wrestling outside of MMA following the RAF08 event. No opponents or match dates were included in the initial announcement.
Chimaev, 32, represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center. He currently holds a 15-1-0 professional MMA record, ranks first in the UFC middleweight division, and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he has long been regarded as one of the most complete wrestlers in MMA, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute. The move to the RAF wrestling league allows him to compete in the discipline that forms the foundation of his fighting game while continuing his MMA career in parallel.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the number-one ranked middleweight contender, meaning any extended commitment outside MMA could affect his divisional timeline
- His elite grappling credentials will be tested in a pure wrestling environment for the first time at the professional level
- The signing raises questions about scheduling and how the dual-sport commitment fits around his UFC obligations
