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