Shara Magomedov signs five-fight RAF deal after debut against Neiman Gracie
The UFC middleweight will continue his freestyle wrestling career after defeating Neiman Gracie in his RAF debut.
Shara Magomedov has already secured his next steps in freestyle wrestling after making his RAF debut in Moscow. The UFC middleweight defeated Neiman Gracie on Saturday and has now signed a five-fight contract with the promotion. After the bout, Magomedov spoke about his performance and his plans for the future.
Shara Magomedov Defeats Neiman Gracie at RAF Debut
Known primarily as an elite striker with a Muay Thai background, Magomedov made his RAF debut against Gracie and showed off his wrestling skills. Pushing the pace and securing key takedowns, "Shara Bullet" managed to defeat the Brazilian jiu-jitsu veteran with a dominant performance.
Speaking to Red Corner MMA after the bout, Magomedov joked about the result while admitting that he still has plenty to learn in wrestling.
"We proved that the Magomedovs are stronger than the Gracies – in wrestling," Magomedov joked. "I felt like I could do better, but I didn’t have enough energy for all of it."
Shara Magomedov Signs Five-Fight RAF Deal
Although Magomedov secured the win, the Russian fighter acknowledged that he is still adapting to freestyle wrestling. The UFC middleweight said he had not spent much time preparing for the bout and believes more training could significantly improve his performance.
"I need to get used to wrestling, I didn’t prepare for that long," Magomedov said. "I think if I have about a month and a half I can wrestle well… I hope there will be more. I signed a contract for five matches. My freestyle wrestling career is just beginning."
Magomedov also remains active in MMA, having defeated Michel Pereira by unanimous decision in his most recent UFC appearance in June. For now, the Russian fighter does not have a date set for his next UFC fight or his next RAF wrestling bout.
