The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev. This represents a crossover move for the UFC welterweight contender into competitive wrestling. Details about specific matches or debut dates were not provided in the announcement. The signing adds a high-profile MMA name to the RAF roster.
The RAF wrestling league has announced the signing of Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, marking a notable crossover move for the UFC middleweight contender into competitive wrestling. The organization confirmed the deal but did not disclose specific match dates or debut details.
Chimaev, 32, represents one of the most decorated combat sports names to join the RAF roster. Fighting out of the United Arab Emirates and training at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, he carries a professional MMA record of 15-1-0 and currently sits ranked first in the UFC middleweight division, with a top-ten spot on the pound-for-pound list. His grappling credentials have long been among the most respected in MMA, and the numbers back that up — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev has the physical profile to compete at a high level in wrestling competition as well.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked UFC middleweight, making this signing a significant profile boost for the RAF league.
- His grappling statistics place him among the elite wrestlers active in MMA, lending competitive credibility to the crossover.
- The move raises questions about how a wrestling schedule might interact with his UFC obligations, though no conflicts have been announced.
- No debut date or match details have been confirmed, leaving the scope of his wrestling commitment unclear for now.
