The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev. This marks Chimaev's entry into competitive wrestling through the organization. No details about potential opponents or debut dates were provided in the announcement. The signing expands Chimaev's combat sports portfolio beyond his MMA career.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, marking the middleweight contender's formal entry into competitive wrestling outside of MMA.
Chimaev, 32, represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center. He currently sits at 15-1-0 in MMA, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he has built his reputation on suffocating grappling, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His striking is equally dangerous, with a 60 percent accuracy rate and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute, but it is his wrestling that has long drawn comparisons to elite combat grapplers. The move to a dedicated wrestling league puts that foundation on formal competitive display.
No details about potential opponents or a debut date were included in the announcement. The signing simply confirms that Chimaev has expanded his combat sports portfolio beyond the UFC's middleweight division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight in MMA, meaning any extended commitment to wrestling could draw scrutiny from UFC brass and affect his fight schedule.
- His elite takedown rate already signals world-class wrestling credentials, making his transition to a structured wrestling competition a credible one rather than a novelty.
- The move adds another dimension to his public profile at a moment when he is firmly in the middleweight title conversation.
