The RAF league has officially announced the signing of UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. Details about the nature of the contract, whether it allows for concurrent UFC competition, or the terms of the agreement were not provided in the announcement. The signing comes as Chimaev remains an active fighter in the UFC middleweight division. No information was given about when Chimaev might compete under the RAF banner or against which opponents.
The RAF league announced on April 19, 2026 that it has signed Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, one of the most prominent active contenders in the UFC middleweight division, in a move that raises immediate questions about his fighting future.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1-0 professional record and currently sits at number one in the UFC middleweight rankings, with a spot at number ten on the pound-for-pound list. Representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, the orthodox fighter stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His statistical profile is among the most imposing in the sport at his weight class, averaging 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute at a 60 percent striking accuracy, while also threatening relentlessly on the ground with 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
The RAF league offered no details on the terms of the agreement, including whether the contract permits Chimaev to continue competing simultaneously in the UFC. No timeline for his RAF debut or potential opponents were disclosed in the announcement.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked UFC middleweight contender and a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter, making any outside signing unusually significant for the division
- It remains unclear whether this deal conflicts with or runs alongside his existing UFC obligations
- His combination of elite striking volume and high-level grappling output makes him one of the more complete fighters at 185 pounds, and his availability for UFC matchmaking could now be in question
