The Real American Fighting (RAF) league officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev to their roster. This represents a significant acquisition for the wrestling-based promotion. The announcement suggests Chimaev will compete in RAF events alongside his UFC obligations or potentially in a different capacity. Further details about the terms of the agreement or his planned participation are not provided in the brief announcement. The signing adds a high-profile UFC name to the RAF lineup.
The Real American Fighting league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, adding one of the UFC's most prominent active competitors to its roster.
Chimaev, 32, competes in the UFC's middleweight division, where he currently holds the number one ranking. He also sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound standings, reflecting his status among the elite fighters in the sport today. Fighting out of the United Arab Emirates and training at Allstars Training Center, the orthodox striker carries a professional record of 15 wins and 1 loss. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev is a physically imposing presence in the 185-pound division. His statistical profile underlines why he is considered a top-tier talent — he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, while generating 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that reflects RAF's identity as a wrestling-based promotion.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the number one ranked UFC middleweight, making this a headline acquisition for RAF
- His elite takedown output aligns closely with RAF's wrestling-focused promotional identity
- The nature of the agreement — whether it runs alongside or separate from his UFC obligations — has not been disclosed, leaving the arrangement's structure unclear
- The signing raises questions about divisional movement and scheduling for one of the middleweight division's most significant contenders
The RAF league did not release terms of the deal or details regarding Chimaev's planned competitive schedule within the promotion.
