Khamzat Chimaev scores spectacular win over Tyron Woodley in RAF Moscow clash of ex-UFC champions
Khamzat Chimaev's dominant run in the RAF continues as he's already set for his next match later this month!
Khamzat Chimaev put on yet another dominant display of his grappling prowess, as he secured a 94-second victory against Tyron Woodley in their freestyle wrestling match at RAF Moscow.
Khamzat Chimaev bags his second pinfall win in the Real American Freestyle wrestling organization; spectacularly beats Tyron Woodley
The Chechnya, Russia-born Khamzat Chimaev -- a three-time Swedish national wrestling champion -- is beheld as one of the very best wrestlers to compete in the sport of mixed martial arts.
"Borz" donned the wrestling boots again this year, making his promotional debut in the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling organization in the headlining match of RAF 10 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, back in June. Chimaev dominantly defeated BJJ maestro Dillon Danis by way of pinfall in 44 seconds. He and his entourage later got into a huge brawl with Danis and his group.
Well, Chimaev's next wrestling match witnessed him headline RAF Moscow in Moscow, Russia, on September 5. His opponent was a fellow former UFC champion, namely ex-UFC welterweight kingpin Tyron Woodley.
Chimaev didn't take long to assert his dominance, scoring a point with a push-out of Woodley. He repeated the same maneuver, taking a 2-0 lead on the scorecards, before securing a body lock takedown and pinning Woodley. The Chechen combatant's pinfall victory came at the 1:34-minute mark of the 195-pound catchweight matchup's first period.
Chimaev also paid his respects to three-time Olympic gold medalist wrestler Buvaisar Saitiev, who passed away last year. The UFC star, who'd even trained under the tutelage of Saitiev, sported a T-shirt paying homage to the legendary grappler.
KHAMZAT GETS THE PIN 💪 pic.twitter.com/9L41wK09Tw
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) September 5, 2026
Khamzat Chimaev wrestles Gilbert Burns in the RAF 13 co-headliner; rumors swirl about Caio Borralho MMA fight
Khamzat Chimaev, during his post-match interview with Chael Sonnen, suggested that he's willing to take on all comers in the RAF. Moreover, Chimaev is booked to wrestle against a familiar foe, UFC veteran Gilbert Burns. He'd outpointed Burns in a three-round welterweight MMA showdown back in 2022.
Chimaev and Burns are now set to clash in the co-headliner of RAF 13 in Miami on September 18.
That card would be headlined by former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington and ex-UFC welterweight titleholder Belal Muhammad. The reigning RAF cruiserweight crossover champion, Covington, will put his RAF belt on the line against archrival Muhammad, whom he famously got into an onstage altercation with at an RAF press conference earlier this year.
Furthermore, on the MMA side of things, Chimaev suffered his first loss in the sport back in May. He dropped the UFC middleweight championship in a split decision defeat at the hands of training partner-turned-rival Sean Strickland. The UAE-based fighter had relentlessly campaigned for an immediate title rematch against Strickland, but to no avail.
The consensus is that Nassourdine Imavov is likely to fight Strickland for the middleweight title next. Imavov fell to Strickland via unanimous decision in a short-notice light heavyweight matchup a few years ago, but he's vowed to dethrone the American when they clash for the UFC 185-pound belt soon.
As such, Chimaev appears to be headed into a potential top contender showdown against Caio Borralho next. He and Borralho have both expressed interest in the fight, but it's yet to be officially announced by the UFC.
