The RAF wrestling league has officially announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev to their organization. This marks Chimaev's entry into competitive wrestling outside of MMA. The announcement generated immediate reaction from other high-level wrestlers including Bo Nickal. No details about specific matches or terms of the agreement were provided in the brief announcement. The signing represents a significant addition to RAF's roster given Chimaev's profile in combat sports.
Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev has signed with the RAF wrestling league, the organization officially announced, marking the UFC middleweight contender's formal entry into competitive wrestling outside of mixed martial arts. No match details or contract terms were disclosed in the announcement.
Chimaev, 32, holds a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and currently sits ranked first in the UFC middleweight division, as well as tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, the six-foot-two, 188-centimeter fighter carries a 75-inch reach and has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the sport. His numbers bear that out — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, complemented by a striking accuracy of 60 percent and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute. The signing drew immediate reaction from other elite wrestlers, including Bo Nickal, though no specifics of those responses were detailed in the announcement.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's grappling credentials are among the most decorated of any active UFC fighter, making his addition a significant profile boost for RAF's roster.
- The move signals a willingness to compete in a structured wrestling format, a rare crossover for a fighter ranked inside the UFC's top ten pound-for-pound.
- His participation could elevate interest in the RAF league and draw further attention from other high-level combat sports athletes considering similar transitions.
