Khamzat Chimaev and Tyron Woodley are officially set to compete against each other at a RAF Wrestling event in Moscow on September 5. The bout has been confirmed as the main event of the evening.
Khamzat Chimaev and Tyron Woodley are officially set to meet at a RAF Wrestling event in Moscow on September 5, with the bout confirmed as the main event of the evening.
Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," enters the contest as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC and sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1-0 professional record. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is one of the more physically imposing presences in combat sports. His grappling-heavy style is backed by elite numbers — 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — while his striking accuracy sits at 60 percent, with 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute.
Woodley, known as "The Chosen One," is a former UFC welterweight champion who brings a 19-7-1 record into the bout. The 44-year-old American, who trains with American Top Team Evolution, stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach. A decorated wrestler in his own right, Woodley averaged 1.06 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career and landed significant strikes at a rate of 2.36 per minute with 48 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is among the elite ranked fighters in MMA, making any high-profile appearance outside the UFC a significant talking point for his career trajectory.
- Woodley, at 44, has been largely absent from major MMA competition in recent years, and this booking represents a notable return to a grappling-centric stage.
- The style contrast is sharp — Chimaev's relentless offensive wrestling against a former champion who built his career on explosive wrestling and powerful counter-striking.
- The Moscow setting under the RAF Wrestling banner signals a growing market for marquee combat sports events in Russia.
