The RAF wrestling league officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev. The post is brief and provides no additional details about the terms of the deal, when Chimaev might compete, or what weight class he will participate in. This represents Chimaev's expansion into professional wrestling competition alongside his MMA career.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev, though the organization's announcement offered no details on contract terms, a competition timeline, or which weight class the MMA star will enter.
Chimaev, who fights out of Allstars Training Center and represents the United Arab Emirates, is currently ranked first in the UFC middleweight division and sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old carries a professional MMA record of 15-1-0 and has long been regarded as one of the sport's most physically dominant competitors. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes inside the cage — a figure that reflects the wrestling credentials he is now bringing to a dedicated competitive platform. His striking accuracy of 60 percent and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute further underline a well-rounded skill set built on a foundation of grappling.
The move into professional wrestling competition marks an expansion of Chimaev's athletic career beyond MMA, though the scope and seriousness of the commitment remain unclear given the brevity of the RAF league's announcement.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite wrestling pedigree — evidenced by his takedown numbers — makes him a credible competitor in a dedicated wrestling format, not merely a celebrity signing.
- His status as the number-one ranked UFC middleweight means any outside athletic venture will draw significant attention to the sport.
- The lack of detail around weight class and schedule leaves open questions about how the commitment might interact with his MMA obligations at the top of a loaded division.
