The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev. This marks Chimaev's entry into professional wrestling competition under the RAF banner. No further details about upcoming matches or specific terms of the contract were provided in the announcement. The signing represents a new venture for Chimaev outside of MMA. The RAF league confirmed the news through an official statement.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev, marking the undefeated-in-all-but-one middleweight contender's entry into professional wrestling competition outside of MMA.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and currently sits as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC, with a place at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, has built his reputation as one of the most dominant grapplers in mixed martial arts. His numbers reflect that identity: he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands striking at a 60 percent accuracy rate, complementing 4.04 significant strikes per minute. Those credentials make the move into a dedicated wrestling league a natural extension of his athletic profile.
The RAF league confirmed the signing through an official statement, though no details about scheduled matches, specific contractual terms, or the scope of his involvement were included in the announcement.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked UFC middleweight and a top-ten pound-for-pound fighter, making his outside ventures significant for the division's landscape
- The signing raises questions about how a professional wrestling commitment might interact with his MMA schedule going forward
- His elite grappling metrics — nearly five and a half takedowns per 15 minutes — make him a credible competitive presence in a wrestling format
- No timeline or match details have been confirmed, leaving the full impact of the agreement unclear for now
