Khamzat Chimaev is expanding his presence in the combat sports world. Real American Freestyle (RAF) announced during their RAF08 event on April 18th in Philadelphia that the undefeated UFC middleweight champion has joined their promotion. The specifics regarding his debut opponent and the event are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
This announcement was made during the RAF08 broadcast at the Liacouras Center, further indicating RAF’s strategy of attracting well-known figures from mixed martial arts and wrestling to broaden their audience.
RAF Welcomes UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev to its Growing Roster
This move aligns well with Chimaev’s fighting style. His approach, characterized by relentless pressure wrestling, control, and physical dominance, has been instrumental in his impressive 15-0 record in MMA and his capture of the UFC middleweight title. He is the current reigning champion, with his first title defense scheduled for May 9th against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 319 in Newark.
For RAF, this signing represents a significant acquisition as the promotion strives to establish itself as a premier destination for elite athletes outside of traditional wrestling circuits. As the first unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league, RAF is demonstrating an ambitious event schedule. RAF08 took place on April 18th in Philadelphia, with RAF09 scheduled for May 30th in Dallas, and RAF10 slated for June 13th in St. Louis.
RAF’s official event listings also confirm Gable Steveson’s debut for RAF09 against Alexandr Romanov. Additionally, reports suggest that former UFC champion Chris Weidman is also slated for his first RAF appearance on the same Dallas card.
Chimaev’s background is not limited to MMA; he possesses genuine freestyle wrestling credentials. Prior to his MMA career, he developed his skills in Sweden, where he reportedly won Swedish national titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018 across various weight classes.
Khamzat Chimaev’s debut with RAF has not yet been scheduled, and the promotion has stated that further details will be released soon. Given that he is already booked to defend his UFC championship on May 9th, any immediate wrestling appearance would likely occur after that commitment, unless RAF strategically schedules it later in their 2026 calendar.
RAF has previously featured notable names such as Arman Tsarukyan, Urijah Faber, Colby Covington, Gable Steveson, and Chris Weidman. The addition of Khamzat Chimaev, a prominent active UFC champion, marks the most significant signing to their roster to date.
