The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. This marks Chimaev's entry into professional wrestling competition outside of MMA. The announcement was made publicly by the league, confirming Chimaev will compete in their wrestling events. Details about his debut match or specific opponents were not provided in the initial announcement. The signing adds another high-profile UFC fighter to the RAF roster alongside Arman Tsarukyan and others who have competed in the league.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, bringing one of the UFC's most dominant middleweight contenders into professional wrestling competition outside of MMA.
Chimaev, 32, currently holds the number one contender spot in the UFC middleweight division and sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. Representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, he carries a professional MMA record of 15-1. His fighting credentials speak for themselves: he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, while averaging an exceptional 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that underlines just how naturally his skill set translates to competitive wrestling. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev is a physically imposing presence on any roster.
The league did not provide details regarding his debut match or prospective opponents in the initial announcement. Chimaev joins a RAF roster that already includes UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan among its high-profile signings.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite grappling statistics make him a credible competitor in professional wrestling, not merely a celebrity addition to the roster.
- The signing continues a trend of active, ranked UFC fighters competing in the RAF league, raising the organization's profile considerably.
- With Chimaev currently the number one middleweight contender in the UFC, the crossover move is likely to draw significant attention from combat sports fans across both disciplines.
