The RAF wrestling league announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev to their roster. This move represents Chimaev's expansion into professional wrestling competition alongside his MMA career. The post provides minimal details about the contract terms, duration, or potential matchups. RAF has been actively signing high-profile combat sports athletes in recent weeks. No information was provided about how this affects his UFC status or fighting schedule.
Khamzat Chimaev has added a new competitive outlet to his combat sports portfolio, with the RAF wrestling league announcing it has signed the UFC middleweight contender to its roster.
Chimaev, known by his nickname "Borz," enters the arrangement as one of the most prominent active fighters in MMA. The 32-year-old UAE-based fighter carries a 15-1-0 professional record and currently sits ranked first in the UFC middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center in an orthodox stance, the six-foot-two, 188-centimeter contender brings a 75-inch reach and a well-documented wrestling-heavy game to whatever competition he enters. His 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes underscores why a wrestling league would pursue him, and his 60 percent striking accuracy reflects how effectively he sets up his grappling with his hands.
The announcement from RAF offered limited specifics, with no contract terms, duration, or potential opponents disclosed. The league has been adding notable combat sports names in recent weeks, and Chimaev represents its most high-profile acquisition to date.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked UFC middleweight, so any commitment to a parallel competition schedule could draw scrutiny from the promotion
- His elite takedown rate makes him a natural fit for professional wrestling formats, but no competitive timeline has been shared
- The signing raises open questions about how his RAF obligations will interact with his UFC schedule, neither organization having addressed the matter publicly
