The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev to their organization. This marks Chimaev's entry into professional wrestling competition alongside his MMA career. The brief announcement does not provide details about the terms of the contract or when Chimaev will make his debut for the league. RAF has been signing several high-profile combat sports athletes in recent months. This news comes amid Chimaev's ongoing MMA career and his scheduled fight with Sean Strickland.
The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, marking his entry into professional wrestling competition while he continues his active MMA career. The organization did not disclose contract terms or a debut date in its announcement.
Chimaev, 32, holds a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and is currently ranked first in the UFC middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of the United Arab Emirates and training at Allstars Training Center, the six-foot-two Orthodox fighter carries a 75-inch reach and has built his reputation on elite grappling credentials. His numbers back that up — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.04 per minute with a striking accuracy of 60 percent, a combination that has made him one of the most complete fighters in the world. He has a middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland on the horizon, meaning the wrestling commitment arrives at a significant moment in his combat sports career.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight contender, so any outside commitment draws scrutiny heading into a high-stakes UFC bout
- The RAF league has been actively recruiting high-profile combat sports athletes, and landing a fighter of Chimaev's caliber raises its profile considerably
- No debut timeline was given, leaving open questions about how the wrestling schedule will align with his MMA obligations
