FIGHTSPLIT

Khamzat Chimaev

21 stories covering Khamzat Chimaev — news, results and analysis.

Khamzat Chimaev, former UFC middleweight champion, set to compete on the RAF 14 wrestling card
UFC

Tsarukyan vs. Danis Headlines RAF 14 as Freestyle Wrestling Hits AMC Screens

Real American Freestyle takes RAF 14 to 40 AMC theaters on Oct. 23, with Tsarukyan-Danis and a Chimaev return leading the card.

Oct 15, 2026

Robert Whittaker during a UFC fight week appearance
UFC

Robert Whittaker Pitches Brendan Allen vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Not DDP

After a fifth-round submission win and a fourth straight victory, Allen wants Dricus du Plessis. Whittaker has a different name in mind.

Oct 14, 2026

Sean Strickland after a UFC middleweight title fight
UFC

Du Plessis Says Imavov Repeats History, Loses Strickland Rematch

DDP went 50 minutes with Strickland over two title fights and won both. Now he's picking the champ to beat Imavov again — same result as 2023.

Oct 7, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev inside the Octagon during his UFC middleweight title bout
UFC

Chimaev Offers Strickland $1 Million to Settle the Score Anywhere

The deposed middleweight champ wants a rematch outside the UFC — and he's put a seven-figure number on it after his first career loss at UFC 328.

Oct 5, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev competing after winning the UFC middleweight title
UFC

Robbie Lawler Comes Out of Retirement to Wrestle Khamzat Chimaev at RAF 14

The 44-year-old UFC Hall of Famer hasn't competed since 2023. His comeback isn't in a cage — it's on the mat against a 2-0 Chimaev.

Sep 23, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev in a UFC weigh-in pose
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev Headlines RAF's Abu Dhabi Debut on Nov. 14

The wrestling league lands a five-year deal in Abu Dhabi, with Chimaev in the main event and Arman Tsarukyan (24-3) on the card too.

Sep 21, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev inside the Octagon before a UFC bout
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev Wants His Belt Back, But Not the Next Title Shot

Fresh off a close decision loss to Sean Strickland in May, Chimaev says any injury layoff would last one or two months — not the long absences fans have seen before.

Sep 18, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev, the UFC's top-ranked middleweight, competing on the mat
UFC

Ray Lewis in Talks for Real American Freestyle Wrestling Run

The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 1993 Florida state champ could hit the RAF mat before the end of 2026.

Sep 16, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev standing in the Octagon during a UFC event
UFC

Chimaev Sets December Deadline: Fight or a Long Layoff to Fix Injuries

Coming off the first loss of a career that once sat at unbeaten, Chimaev says he'll shelve his comeback and finally handle six surgeries' worth of damage if December stays empty.

Sep 13, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev in the Octagon during a UFC middleweight bout
UFC

Chimaev Rules Out Borralho and Du Plessis, Eyes Strickland Rematch

The 15-1 middleweight king wants Sean Strickland or Nassourdine Imavov next — and he's floating MSG in November or T-Mobile in December.

Sep 7, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev standing on the mat after a grappling match
UFC

Chimaev Pins Woodley in 94 Seconds at RAF Moscow, Burns Up Next

The UFC middleweight champ needed just 1:34 to slam Tyron Woodley to the mat in his grappling exhibition. Gilbert Burns is booked for Sept. 18.

Sep 5, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev, UFC middleweight champion, at a public appearance
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley Headlines RAF Moscow Grappling Card

Two former UFC champs meet on the mats Saturday at VTB Arena, with Chimaev fresh off a June pinfall win over Dillon Danis.

Sep 2, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev preparing to fight in the UFC middleweight division
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev Wants Strickland Rematch — or Three Other Names

Fresh off the first loss of his career, Chimaev listed four targets for his UFC return, from Sean Strickland to a red-hot Nassourdine Imavov.

Sep 1, 2026

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in competition gear
UFC

Tyron Woodley Erases an 8-Point Hole to Beat Buckley at RAF 12

Down 8-0 in the opening period, Woodley rallied to a 14-8 win — and now he heads to Russia to face Khamzat Chimaev on Sept. 5.

Aug 23, 2026

Gilbert Burns celebrates a submission victory
UFC

Gilbert Burns Wants Colby Covington on the Mat: 'That Would Be a Good One'

Fresh off a one-minute submission win in his UFC BJJ debut, 'Durinho' is eyeing a freestyle wrestling grudge match with Colby Covington in RAF.

Aug 21, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev walking out for a UFC middleweight bout at the Prudential Center
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev Breaks Silence on Namo Fazil's Fight-Week Ambush Claims

Fazil says a group of 15 confronted him before his DWCS loss to Kaik Brito, snapping an eight-fight win streak. Chimaev's cryptic reply landed Thursday.

Aug 20, 2026

Tyron Woodley speaking at a press conference
UFC

Tyron Woodley Plans MMA Comeback at 44, Rides Hard for Din Thomas

Woodley hasn't won a fight since beating Darren Till in 2019. Now he's booked for RAF, eyeing an MMA return, and defending his coach against Sean Strickland.

Aug 19, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev poses on the scale at a ceremonial weigh-in
UFC

Dillon Danis Won't Be Banned From RAF After Chimaev Brawl, Exec Says

RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein says Danis will return despite the RAF 10 mat brawl — and Chimaev meets Tyron Woodley on Sept. 5.

Aug 9, 2026

Bo Nickal poses after a UFC victory
UFC

Bo Nickal Draws Olympic Gold Medalist Muradov at RAF Moscow

The 9-1 UFC middleweight adds a September date with 96kg Olympic freestyle champion Shirvani Muradov — his toughest wrestling test yet.

Aug 4, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev inside the Octagon during a UFC bout
UFC

Chimaev's Coach Says a Late Opponent Switch Wrecked the Weight Cut

Murad Bichuev claims Chimaev was bulking for a 205-pound fight with Prochazka before the booking flipped to Strickland at 185. The result: a split-decision loss and Khamzat's first blemish at 15-1.

Aug 3, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev looks on before his middleweight title bout at UFC 319
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev Meets Tyron Woodley on the Mats at RAF Moscow

Chimaev makes his second Real American Freestyle appearance on Sept. 5, facing a Woodley who hasn't won a combat-sports bout in nearly eight years.

Jul 30, 2026