Philadelphia, PA (April 18, 2026) – Real American Freestyle (RAF), the first unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league and the new home for the sport’s elite, has signed Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated, reigning UFC middleweight champion. The signing was just announced live at RAF08 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. Chimaev’s debut matchup and event will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Chimaev’s standout wrestling base has allowed him to physically dominate opponents en route to a 15-0 record in MMA. He previously competed in freestyle wrestling in Sweden and was undefeated across two Swedish Freestyle National Championships.
The signing continues to leave no doubt that RAF is the premier destination for the world’s best combat athletes to compete in previously impossible matchups. The league looks forward to upcoming events: RAF09 on May 30th in Dallas, featuring both Gable Steveson and Chris Weidman’s RAF debut, and RAF10 in St. Louis on June 13th.
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