Anatoly Malykhin will compete in a freestyle wrestling match against Pouya Rahmani on September 5 in Moscow under the RAF banner. The bout marks a combat sports crossover for Malykhin outside of MMA.
Anatoly Malykhin will step outside the MMA cage and onto the wrestling mat when he takes on Pouya Rahmani in a freestyle wrestling bout on September 5 in Moscow, competing under the RAF banner.
The crossover event represents a deliberate pivot for Malykhin, one of MMA's most dominant heavyweight and light heavyweight champions, who will test his grappling credentials in a pure wrestling format rather than the mixed-rules environment where he has built his reputation.
His opponent, Pouya Rahmani, is a 33-year-old competitor representing the UAE who carries an undefeated 5-0-0 record into the contest. Standing six-foot-two with a 79-inch reach, Rahmani brings notable physical tools to the matchup.
Why it matters
- The bout is a rare combat sports crossover, pitting an elite MMA champion against a dedicated wrestling specialist in a format outside either man's primary stage.
- Freestyle wrestling rules strip away the striking and submission dimensions of MMA, placing the entire contest on pure takedown and positional grappling skill.
- Rahmani's undefeated record signals he is no token opponent, and the Moscow setting under the RAF banner gives the event a formal competitive framework rather than an exhibition backdrop.
The September 5 date in Moscow gives both competitors roughly five weeks to finalize preparation for a format that will demand specialized conditioning and technique from both men.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
