Olympic wrestling champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev will make his MMA debut with RAF in the United States within the next few months. The legendary wrestler said he is ready to face any opponent and nodded affirmatively when asked about Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar. Sadulaev joked that like Khabib once said, his opponent could be King Kong as long as they make 97 kg. This represents a major crossover from wrestling to MMA for one of the sport's most decorated athletes.
Abdulrashid Sadulaev, widely regarded as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in history, is set to transition into mixed martial arts with promotion RAF, with his debut expected to take place in the United States within the next few months.
Sadulaev made the announcement himself, stating he is prepared to face any opponent. When pressed on specific names, he responded affirmatively to the mention of both Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar, two of the most recognizable heavyweights in combat sports history. In a nod to Khabib Nurmagomedov's famous pre-fight bravado, Sadulaev quipped that his opponent could be King Kong, so long as they can make 97 kilograms.
No verified fighter data for Sadulaev was available in the AgentMMA database, as he arrives from the amateur wrestling world rather than the professional MMA circuit. His credentials on the mat, however, are well established in the public record of international competition.
Why it matters
- Sadulaev's entry into MMA marks one of the highest-profile crossovers from Olympic wrestling in recent years, drawing inevitable comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov's own wrestling-to-MMA path.
- His comments naming Jones and Lesnar signal ambitions at the very top of the heavyweight division, though no opponent or date has been formally announced.
- RAF securing his debut in the United States gives the promotion a significant platform and mainstream visibility heading into the event.
The debut represents a defining moment for a wrestler whose dominance on the international mat has long fueled speculation about what he could accomplish inside a cage.
