The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. This marks a significant addition to the growing wrestling promotion that has been attracting high-profile MMA fighters. Chimaev, known for his elite wrestling skills in MMA, will now compete in pure wrestling matches under the RAF banner. No details about his first opponent or match date were provided in the announcement. The signing follows other major MMA names joining the wrestling league in recent weeks.
The RAF wrestling league has confirmed the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, marking one of the most prominent additions to the promotion since it began recruiting high-profile MMA talent in recent weeks.
Chimaev, 32, enters the league as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two, 188-centimeter orthodox fighter carries a professional MMA record of 15-1. His wrestling credentials in mixed martial arts are well established — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, among the highest rates in his division, and adds 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He also lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent striking accuracy rate, though it is his grappling that has long defined his reputation inside the cage.
The RAF announcement did not include details on an opponent or a scheduled match date for Chimaev's pure wrestling debut. The promotion has been building momentum by attracting recognizable MMA names, and Chimaev's signing represents a notable escalation in that effort.
Why it matters
- Chimaev brings elite-level MMA wrestling credentials to a promotion still establishing itself in the combat sports landscape
- His involvement could accelerate RAF's visibility and draw further high-profile MMA signings
- The move raises questions about how Chimaev will balance a pure wrestling schedule alongside his position as the UFC's top-ranked middleweight contender
