Khamzat Chimaev is aware he isn’t unbeatable across every discipline.
The UFC middleweight champion is closing in on his next fight, where he’ll top the bill at the organisation’s upcoming card in Newark, New Jersey.
Chimaev will be putting his title on the line against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, though that’s not the only thing on his plate right now.
He’s also set to appear at Real American Freestyle, joining a growing list of MMA names taking part. He knows full well that victory isn’t guaranteed there either.
Chimaev’s move to RAF was revealed during the organisation’s eighth event, where Arman Tsarukyan picked up a win over Urijah Faber to improve his record to 3-0 in the promotion.
Chimaev has been working with the UFC lightweight champion in preparation for his next title fight and recently spoke about the differences between MMA and wrestling while training with fitness coach Sama Calavitta.
After signing with RAF, Chimaev welcomed potential matches against Olympic champions. Kyle Snyder, who won gold in 2016, said he’d be open to facing Chimaev, calling it the only bout against a UFC fighter he’d be interested in.
The middleweight champ doesn’t often talk about losing, but he admitted that a match against someone like Snyder on the mats would be a different challenge.
“A lot of people like to say, ‘Oh these wrestlers,’” Chimaev said (h/t Red Corner MMA). “It’s two different sports completely.”
“An Olympic champ can beat me in a match. An Olympic champ in the cage; I can beat any Olympic champ. Two different sports.”
“I respect Kyle (Snyder), (Abdulrashid) Sadulaev – all these guys. Great champs for wrestling but not MMA,” he added.
No date or opponent has been announced yet for Chimaev’s RAF debut. Details will likely come after his title fight against Strickland at Prudential Center on May 9.
The new wrestling promotion is set to feature several other UFC names soon. One of them is Gable Steveson, who will make his first appearance at RAF09 on May 30 before stepping into the Octagon at International Fight Week later this year.
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