Abdulrashid Sadulaev signs contract with RAF Wrestling league

Two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion in freestyle wrestling Abdulrashid Sadulaev has signed an exclusive contract with the American league RAF Wrestling (Real American Freestyle).

The promotion officially announced the signing:

“There is only one home for the best freestyle wrestlers in the world — and that is RAF. Abdulrashid Sadulaev has signed an exclusive contract with RAF to compete in professional wrestling. It is an honor for us to welcome one of the greatest athletes ever to step onto the mat,” the league said in a statement.

RAF Wrestling has relatively recently begun hosting events in the United States and positions itself as a professional wrestling promotion with a format stylistically similar to the UFC, but with a clear focus on freestyle wrestling. Within RAF, Olympic wrestlers and MMA stars compete in classic wrestling bouts. The promotion also features its own championship belts across multiple weight classes.

The most recent event, RAF 5, took place on January 10 in Florida. The card featured Armenian UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan, along with several other well-known athletes.

The next show, RAF 6, is scheduled for February 28 in Arizona. It has already been confirmed that former UFC stars will compete on the card: Henry Cejudo will face Urijah Faber, Muhammad Mokaev will take on Bryce Meredith, and Olympic medalist Frank Chamizo will meet Keegan O’Toole.

It is expected that Abdulrashid Sadulaev will make his debut in the new professional league at RAF 6 — an appearance set to become one of the main highlights of the evening and attract special attention from freestyle wrestling fans worldwide.