The Real Action Fighting (RAF) league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev. This marks Chimaev's involvement with the wrestling-focused organization. Details about the terms of the agreement or Chimaev's planned schedule with RAF are not provided in the announcement. The signing represents an expansion of Chimaev's combat sports activities beyond mixed martial arts.
The Real Action Fighting league has announced the signing of Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, bringing the top-ranked middleweight contender into the wrestling-focused organization as of April 2026.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and currently sits at number one in the UFC middleweight division while ranking tenth on the pound-for-pound list. Born in Chechnya and now representing the United Arab Emirates, he trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden. The orthodox fighter stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, and his statistical profile reflects a dominant all-around game. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that underlines why a wrestling-focused league would have interest in him. He adds 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, rounding out a profile that is as dangerous on the mat as it is on the feet.
The RAF league has not disclosed the financial terms of the agreement or provided any details on Chimaev's planned schedule within the organization. The announcement positions the signing as an expansion of his combat sports activity beyond mixed martial arts.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume makes him a natural fit for a wrestling-centric format
- His pound-for-pound ranking and divisional status give the RAF league immediate credibility
- No schedule details have been confirmed, leaving the scope of his involvement unclear
- The move raises questions about how his RAF commitments will align with his MMA career
