Olympic wrestling champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev will make his MMA debut with Real American Freestyle in the coming months at a tournament in the United States. Sadulaev stated he is prepared to face any opponent and responded to questions about potentially facing Jon Jones or Brock Lesnar. When asked, Sadulaev quoted Khabib Nurmagomedov saying the opponent could be 'King Kong' as long as they make the 97 kg weight limit. This condition suggests Sadulaev plans to compete in a lower weight class than some of the heaviest divisions.
Two-time Olympic wrestling champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev is set to make his professional MMA debut with Real American Freestyle within the coming months, competing at a tournament on American soil. The Russian grappling standout confirmed he is open to facing any opponent and addressed speculation surrounding high-profile matchups with names such as Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar.
Sadulaev made clear that his primary condition is straightforward: whoever steps across from him must be able to make the 97-kilogram weight limit. In doing so, he borrowed a line from UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, invoking the phrase that the opponent could be "King Kong" so long as they meet that requirement. The weight limit signals that Sadulaev intends to operate below the traditional heavyweight ceiling, carving out his own divisional space for his MMA career.
Why it matters
- Sadulaev is widely regarded as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in history, and his transition to MMA brings elite-level grappling credentials rarely seen in a debut fighter.
- The 97-kilogram limit places him in a weight class that sits between light heavyweight and traditional heavyweight, which could shape how Real American Freestyle structures its tournament field.
- His willingness to face established combat sports names immediately raises the profile of the promotion and its upcoming event.
- The United States venue adds commercial weight to a debut that will draw significant attention from both the wrestling and MMA communities.
