UFC Champ Khamzat Chimaev Signs with Real American Freestyle

The undefeated middleweight champion joins the exclusive FOX Nation promotion.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:28am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fractured, multi-perspective action of a mixed martial arts fight, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the dynamic movements and intensity of the competition.Khamzat Chimaev's signing with the Real American Freestyle promotion signals a shift in the combat sports landscape as top fighters explore new opportunities.Philadelphia Today

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has signed with the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion, which is streamed exclusively on FOX Nation. Chimaev, an undefeated mixed martial artist, is the latest combat sports star to join the RAF roster. The announcement was made during the lead-up to RAF 08 in Philadelphia, where a change was also announced to the main event due to an injury to Henry Cejudo.

Why it matters

Khamzat Chimaev's signing with RAF is a major coup for the promotion, which is looking to expand its reach and attract top talent from the world of MMA. Chimaev is one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC, and his move to RAF could signal a shift in the combat sports landscape as top fighters explore opportunities outside of the traditional promotion structures.

The details

Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, has signed with Real American Freestyle, a promotion that streams exclusively on FOX Nation. The announcement was made during the lead-up to RAF 08, which was set to feature a main event matchup between Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili. However, due to an injury to Cejudo, the main event was canceled, and Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber was elevated to the main event, with Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan as the co-main.

  • Khamzat Chimaev's signing with RAF was announced on April 19, 2026, ahead of the RAF 08 event in Philadelphia.
  • The main event of RAF 08, originally scheduled to be Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili, was canceled due to an injury to Cejudo.

The players

Khamzat Chimaev

The undefeated UFC middleweight champion who has now signed with the Real American Freestyle promotion.

Real American Freestyle (RAF)

A combat sports promotion that streams exclusively on FOX Nation and is looking to attract top talent like Khamzat Chimaev.

Henry Cejudo

The 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and former two-weight UFC champion, who was scheduled to compete in the main event of RAF 08 but had to withdraw due to injury.

Merab Dvalishvili

The UFC fighter who was scheduled to compete against Henry Cejudo in the main event of RAF 08 before the matchup was canceled.

Chad Bronstein

The CEO of Real American Freestyle, who announced the changes to the RAF 08 card.

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What they’re saying

“As we get set for tonight's RAF08, we want to share some important updates to tonight's card. Henry Cejudo is out due to injury, and his matchup with Merab Dvalishivili has been canceled. Arman Tsarukyan vs Urijah Faber is now the main event of the evening, with Kyle Snyder vs Rizabek Aitmukhan as the co-main event.”

— Chad Bronstein, CEO, Real American Freestyle

What’s next

RAF 08 will proceed with Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber as the new main event, and Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan as the co-main event.

The takeaway

Khamzat Chimaev's signing with the Real American Freestyle promotion signals a shift in the combat sports landscape, as top MMA stars explore opportunities outside of the traditional promotion structures. This move could open the door for more cross-over between different combat sports organizations and attract new audiences to the RAF brand.