Khamzat Chimaev Faces Tyron Woodley in Sept. 5 RAF Moscow Wrestling Event

Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will headline an RAF wrestling card in Moscow against Tyron Woodley on Sept. 5.

Khamzat Chimaev and Tyron Woodley will headline a Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling event in Moscow, Russia, on Sept. 5. This announcement, made by officials on Thursday, pits two former UFC champions against each other in a freestyle wrestling format. Chimaev, a native of Chechnya, enters this bout following a five-round decision loss to Sean Strickland in May, a result that saw him surrender his UFC middleweight title.

This September appearance marks the second consecutive wrestling match for Chimaev. He previously debuted for the RAF promotion in June, where he secured a victory over Dillon Danis in a St. Louis main event. Despite his current focus on the mats, Chimaev has publicly requested an immediate rematch against Strickland for later this year, though the UFC has not yet confirmed his next mixed martial arts booking.

Woodley’s Multi-Event RAF Schedule

Tyron Woodley, 44, enters the Moscow event with a busy wrestling itinerary. Before facing Chimaev, the former UFC welterweight champion is scheduled to make his promotional debut at RAF 12 in August. During that event, he will compete against current UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley. Woodley brings a significant grappling pedigree to the RAF mats as a former All-America NCAA Division-I wrestler from the University of Missouri.

Woodley officially retired from professional mixed martial arts in 2021. His transition to the RAF circuit follows a career defined by his reign atop the UFC's 170-pound division. The September 5 clash represents a high-profile collision between a recently active titleholder and a veteran standout of the collegiate wrestling system.

RAF International Expansion to Russia

The Sept. 5 card represents a milestone for Real American Freestyle as it hosts its first event within Russia. This Moscow showcase serves as the organization's second international venture. The promotion previously expanded outside of its domestic base with a card held in Tbilisi, Georgia, during July.

By securing Chimaev for the headline slot, the promotion brings a local star back to the region following his stint in the United States. Chimaev’s recent activity has been concentrated in the RAF main event circuit, moving from the St. Louis victory in June to this upcoming Russian appearance.

Competitive Context and Recent Records

Chimaev’s shift to wrestling follows the end of his championship run in the UFC middleweight division. The five-round decision defeat to Strickland in May remains his most recent competitive outing in MMA. In contrast, Woodley has been away from MMA competition for five years, having ended his cage career in 2021 before signing with the wrestling promotion.

Brett Okamoto reported these details on July 30, 2026. The RAF continues to utilize former UFC talent to anchor its headline bouts, as seen with the inclusion of Danis, Buckley, Woodley, and Chimaev across their summer and fall schedules. The Moscow event will test Woodley's Division-I wrestling background against the freestyle skills of the Chechen-born former champion.