The RAF league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev. This represents a notable addition to the wrestling organization's roster. No further details about Chimaev's first match or contract terms were provided in the announcement. The signing follows RAF's recent events featuring other MMA fighters in wrestling competition. Chimaev joins a growing crossover movement between MMA and wrestling promotions.
Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev has added a new chapter to his combat sports career after the RAF wrestling league officially announced his signing on April 19, 2026. No details regarding his first match or the terms of the contract were disclosed in the announcement.
Chimaev enters the wrestling organization as one of the most decorated and feared competitors in mixed martial arts. The 32-year-old orthodox fighter, representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, currently holds a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and sits ranked first in the UFC middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. His grappling credentials speak for themselves inside the cage: he averages 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes, a figure that places him among the elite wrestlers in MMA. His overall game is equally dangerous on the feet, where he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent striking accuracy. He also averages 1.8 submission attempts per fifteen minutes, underlining just how complete a threat he is once a fight hits the mat.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's arrival adds a high-profile MMA name to the RAF roster, continuing a growing crossover trend between MMA and wrestling promotions.
- His elite takedown output and submission activity make him a natural fit for wrestling competition, rather than a novelty signing.
- The move raises questions about how Chimaev will balance wrestling commitments alongside his position as the number-one ranked UFC middleweight contender.
- No opponent or event date has been announced, leaving the scope of his wrestling involvement unclear for now.
