The Real Action Federation (RAF) wrestling league has officially announced the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. The brief announcement confirms Chimaev's addition to the wrestling organization's roster. No details about potential opponents, match dates, or the terms of the agreement were provided. This represents Chimaev expanding his combat sports activities beyond MMA into competitive wrestling. The signing adds a high-profile UFC name to RAF's growing roster.
Khamzat Chimaev has signed with the Real Action Federation wrestling league, the organization officially announced on April 19, 2026, marking a notable expansion of the UFC middleweight contender's competitive pursuits beyond mixed martial arts.
Chimaev, known by the nickname "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and currently holds the number-one contender ranking in the UFC middleweight division, with a place inside the top ten on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old, who competes out of the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His MMA numbers reflect the grappling-heavy style that makes his crossover into wrestling a natural fit — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy, an unusually high rate for someone with such an aggressive finishing approach.
The RAF announcement confirmed Chimaev's addition to its roster but offered no further specifics. No opponents, match dates, or contract terms were disclosed.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume in MMA signals genuine wrestling credentials, not simply a celebrity crossover signing
- The move adds one of UFC's most prominent pound-for-pound names to RAF's growing competitor pool
- Competing in a separate combat sports organization while ranked first in a UFC division is an uncommon profile move that will draw attention to both promotions
