The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev to their roster. This marks Chimaev's entry into the wrestling-specific competition alongside his MMA career. The announcement has already generated immediate interest, with Bo Nickal quickly responding with a challenge. Details about Chimaev's first opponent or match date were not provided in the announcement.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the addition of Khamzat Chimaev to its roster, marking the Swedish-based UFC middleweight contender's formal entry into wrestling-specific competition alongside his ongoing MMA career.
Chimaev, known by the nickname "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and is currently ranked first in the UFC middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old, who competes out of the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His grappling credentials are well-documented inside the octagon, where he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also lands strikes at a rate of 4.04 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 60 percent, making him one of the more complete fighters in the division.
The announcement drew an immediate public response, with fellow grappling standout Bo Nickal quickly issuing a challenge to Chimaev following the news. The RAF has not yet disclosed details regarding Chimaev's first opponent or a scheduled match date.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's entry into the RAF brings one of MMA's most recognizable grapplers into dedicated wrestling competition, raising the league's profile considerably.
- Bo Nickal's rapid challenge sets up a potential high-profile matchup between two elite combat sports athletes with decorated wrestling backgrounds.
- Any crossover activity could carry implications for Chimaev's scheduling and availability within the UFC middleweight division, where he holds the number-one contender ranking.
