Khamzat Chimaev isn’t short on options right now and that extends beyond the Octagon.
The undefeated middleweight champion is set to defend his title against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9. The matchup has been brewing for a while, fueled by tension between both fighters, but Chimaev has already added another layer to his schedule.
Over the weekend, Khamzat Chimaev signed a deal with Real American Freestyle (RAF), the fast-rising wrestling promotion that has attracted several UFC names in recent months. The move keeps Chimaev active and opens the door for high-profile grappling matchups.
Khamzat Chimaev brings a strong wrestling pedigree into the promotion, having previously competed in freestyle wrestling during his time in Sweden, where he won national titles. Now, even before his RAF debut is officially booked, fighters are already lining up to face him.
One of the first to step forward is Bo Nickal, who didn’t hesitate to make his intentions clear.
“Khamzat signing with RAF. That is very exciting. Let’s run it,” Nickal posted.
The callout adds more heat to an already tense dynamic between the two. Nickal previously downplayed Chimaev’s standing among elite MMA wrestlers and went as far as claiming he would “ragdoll” him in a fight.
Still, making that matchup happen won’t be straightforward. Current UFC rules prevent active fighters from competing against each other in other promotions. That restriction could block a Chimaev vs. Nickal wrestling clash for now.
RAF officials are reportedly exploring ways to work around those limitations, especially as they look to capitalize on matchups that fans clearly want. With fighters like Arman Tsarukyan already benefiting from the platform’s growing visibility, the promotion is pushing to make more crossover bouts happen.
For now, Khamzat Chimaev remains focused on business inside the Octagon, with a major title defense looming. But outside of it, the interest is building and the line of potential opponents is getting longer.
