The RAF wrestling league announced it has signed Khamzat Chimaev to compete in their organization. This represents an expansion of Chimaev's combat sports activities beyond his UFC MMA career. The announcement was brief, with limited details provided about the terms of the deal or when Chimaev might compete. RAF has been attracting high-profile MMA fighters to participate in wrestling matches. This signing follows the recent RAF event featuring other notable MMA names. Further details about Chimaev's RAF debut are expected to emerge.
The RAF wrestling league has officially signed Khamzat Chimaev, adding the UFC middleweight contender to its roster of high-profile MMA competitors. The announcement came on April 19, 2026, though specific terms of the deal and a timeline for his debut remain undisclosed.
Chimaev, known by his nickname "Borz," is one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC's middleweight division. The 32-year-old carries a professional MMA record of 15-1-0 and currently holds the number-one ranking at middleweight, while also sitting tenth in the UFC's pound-for-pound standings. Representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, the orthodox fighter stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His grappling credentials are well established inside the cage — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.04 per minute with a striking accuracy of 60 percent, numbers that make him a natural fit for a wrestling-focused competition format.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume translates directly to competitive wrestling, giving RAF a legitimately credentialed grappler rather than a celebrity draw
- The signing extends his combat sports profile at a moment when he ranks inside the UFC's top ten pound-for-pound, raising RAF's visibility considerably
- RAF's continued recruitment of prominent MMA names signals a growing crossover market between mixed martial arts and wrestling-specific promotions
- Details around his debut date and competition format remain pending, leaving the full scope of his commitment unclear
