Olympic wrestling champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev will make his MMA debut with the RAF (Russian MMA organization) in the United States within the next few months. According to reports, Sadulaev is willing to face any opponent and was asked about potential matchups with Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar, to which he nodded affirmatively. Sadulaev stated he would fight anyone, quoting Khabib Nurmagomedov: "Even if it's King Kong, as long as he makes 97 kg." The comment appears to reference weight class strategy for his debut bout.
Multiple-time Olympic wrestling champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev is set to transition into mixed martial arts, with reports confirming he will make his professional MMA debut under the RAF banner — a Russian MMA organization — somewhere in the United States within the coming months.
Sadulaev, widely regarded as one of the greatest Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers in modern history, has made clear he is not concerned about the identity of his first opponent. When asked specifically about potential matchups with former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and veteran heavyweight Brock Lesnar, Sadulaev responded with an affirmative nod. He reinforced the point verbally, paraphrasing a line famously associated with Khabib Nurmagomedov: that he would fight anyone, even King Kong, so long as the opponent can make 97 kilograms.
That weight reference is notable. The 97-kilogram threshold aligns with the light heavyweight limit used in international wrestling competition, and Sadulaev's comment appears to signal that weight class positioning will factor into how his debut is structured, rather than an immediate jump to the open heavyweight division.
Why it matters
- Sadulaev's Olympic-level wrestling pedigree makes him one of the most decorated athletes ever to enter MMA, and his debut will draw significant attention regardless of opponent.
- The 97-kilogram weight comment raises questions about whether he targets MMA light heavyweight or a catchweight arrangement for his first bout.
- RAF staging the debut in the United States suggests the organization is pursuing a broader international audience for the event.
- No opponent, venue, or confirmed date has been announced, leaving the matchup details unresolved for now.
