Khamzat Chimaev has officially signed a contract with the RAF wrestling league. The announcement confirms Chimaev's entry into professional wrestling competition alongside his MMA career. The post refers to Chimaev by the nickname "Borz" and asks fans who they would like to see him face in a wrestling match. No specific opponents or match dates were announced at the time of the signing. This move follows a trend of high-profile MMA fighters participating in wrestling events through RAF.
Khamzat Chimaev has officially signed a contract with the RAF wrestling league, adding professional wrestling competition to his already formidable combat sports resume. The announcement, made on April 19, 2026, referenced the Swedish-Chechen fighter by his well-known nickname "Borz" and invited fans to weigh in on who they would like to see him face on the mat. No opponents or match dates were attached to the signing.
Chimaev enters the wrestling league as one of the most decorated grapplers in mixed martial arts. The 32-year-old carries a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and currently sits as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC, also appearing at number ten in the pound-for-pound standings. Representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, the six-foot-two orthodox fighter possesses a 75-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most suffocating wrestlers. His numbers back that up: he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate, a combination that leaves opponents with virtually no safe space to operate.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's grappling credentials make him a credible addition to elite wrestling competition, not merely a celebrity signing
- The move follows a growing pattern of high-profile MMA athletes crossing over into RAF-sanctioned wrestling events
- His divisional standing means any sustained commitment to wrestling will draw scrutiny over its impact on his middleweight title pursuits
- Fan engagement around potential opponents could signal the league's broader promotional ambitions for the partnership
