Khamzat Chimaev is including one other lane to his martial arts schedule. Actual American Freestyle introduced reside on April 18 throughout RAF08 in Philadelphia that the undefeated UFC middleweight champion has signed with the promotion, though his debut opponent and occasion within the coming weeks have but to be finalized.
The announcement, made throughout the broadcast of RAF08 on the Liacorous Middle, is the most recent signal that RAF stays eager on MMA and wrestling crossover names to extend viewership.
RAF provides UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev to rising squad
This transfer is sensible. Chimaev’s sport has lengthy been related to stress wrestling, management and bodily dominance, and that fashion has helped him obtain a 15-0 file in MMA whereas additionally successful the UFC middleweight title. He’s the reigning champion and his first UFC title protection is scheduled for Might ninth towards former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark.
For RAF, that is one other headline deal at a time when the promotion is establishing itself as a touchdown spot for elite athletes exterior of the common professional wrestling pipeline. The corporate is the primary unscripted skilled freestyle wrestling league, and up to date occasion developments point out an aggressive schedule with RAF08 scheduled for April 18th in Philadelphia, RAF09 scheduled for Might thirtieth in Dallas, and RAF10 scheduled for June thirteenth in St. Louis.
The RAF’s official occasion itemizing additionally confirms that Gable Stevenson will make his debut towards Alexander Romanov at RAF09, whereas exterior occasion protection reviews that former UFC champion Chris Weidman can be scheduled to make his RAF debut on the identical Dallas card.
Chimaev just isn’t a star with no mat background. Earlier than his rise in MMA, he constructed up critical freestyle credentials after shifting to Sweden, and printed information throughout main profiles credit score him with successful Swedish nationwide titles at numerous weights in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
A date for Chimaev’s RAF debut has not been disclosed, with the promotion solely stating that additional particulars might be introduced. He is already set to defend his UFC belt on Might ninth, so except the RAF chooses to fit him deeper into their 2026 calendar, his speedy wrestling look will probably be after that stint.
AF already has outstanding names on the present, together with Arman Tsarukyan, Yuliya Faber, Colby Covington, Gable Stevenson and Chris Weidman, and Chimaev turns into the most important lively UFC champion to be added to that listing up to now.
