The wrestling promotion RAF has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev to their roster. This marks a significant addition to the wrestling league, bringing one of MMA's most recognizable names into the pure wrestling competition format. No further details about potential opponents or debut date were provided in the announcement. Chimaev has previously demonstrated elite wrestling skills in his MMA career.
Wrestling promotion RAF has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev, bringing one of MMA's most prominent competitors into pure wrestling competition. The organization confirmed the addition to their roster but did not disclose potential opponents or a debut date for Chimaev.
Chimaev, known by the nickname Borz, enters the RAF roster as a widely recognized figure in combat sports. The 32-year-old, who competes out of the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, holds a 15-1-0 record in MMA and currently sits ranked first in the middleweight division, with a top-ten position on the pound-for-pound rankings at number ten. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev has built his MMA reputation on an aggressive, pressure-based style rooted in wrestling. His numbers reflect that approach — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute, with a striking accuracy of 60 percent and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite-level wrestling credentials, evidenced by his MMA takedown volume, make him a credible addition to a pure wrestling format
- The signing raises the profile of the RAF promotion by attracting a name who holds a top-ten pound-for-pound MMA ranking
- Divisional implications in MMA remain to be seen, as no details on how this arrangement affects his UFC middleweight commitments were provided in the announcement
- The absence of opponent or debut information leaves the scope of Chimaev's involvement with RAF largely undefined for now
