Khamzat Chimaev isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
With his first UFC middleweight title defense scheduled against Sean Strickland on May 9 at UFC 328, Chimaev is already planning his next move – this time on the wrestling mats!
The undefeated star was officially announced as a new addition to Real American Freestyle (RAF) during RAF 8.
Before rising to global fame in MMA, Chimaev built a strong foundation in wrestling after relocating to Sweden.
He competed in numerous tournaments and developed a well-rounded skill set before ultimately choosing to pursue a career in fighting.
That decision has paid off.
Chimaev currently holds a perfect 15-0 record, including nine wins in the UFC.
His most recent victory – a dominant decision over Dricus du Plessis – earned him the middleweight title and cemented his place among the sport’s elite.
Now, regardless of how his upcoming title defense plays out, Chimaev appears ready to test himself in a different arena.
His transition to RAF immediately opens the door to high-profile matchups, with Olympic champion Kyle Snyder already expressing interest:
I’ve seen clips of him wrestling and I think he’s pretty good.
He’s similar to Arman [Tsarukyan]… They know what they’re doing.So I think that’s an interesting matchup.
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