RAF champion steps up to Khamzat Chimaev’s $200,000 challenge for Olympic gold medalists

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Khamzat Chimaev posted on social media last night, offering $200,000 to any Olympic gold medallist willing to spar him – and he may have found his match.

The UFC middleweight champion is in camp for a long-awaited fight with Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Meanwhile, he announced on Saturday that after his first title defense, he will be joining RAF Wrestling for a match.

New footage from the wrestling promotion’s event shows Olympic gold medallist and RAF light-heavyweight champion Kyle Snyder is expected to take up the offer. It’s an intriguing matchup that brings together one of MMA’s top fighters and one of wrestling’s elite champions.

Chimaev offers $200,000 for Olympic Wrestlers to step up

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev issued a bold challenge on social media, offering $200,000 to any Olympic gold medalist willing to spar with him.

Chimaev’s unbeaten MMA record is built on his wrestling background, and he hasn’t been shy about backing himself in these types of challenges.

“Poor wrestlers started throwing challenges my way,” Chimaev wrote on X. “I’m having trouble finding sparring partners, waiting for any Olympic champion to step up for sparring. If he survives, I’ll give him 200 thousand dollars.”

It looks like Kyle Snyder will answer Khamzat Chimaev’s challenge

Adam Zubayraev was in Philadelphia on Saturday night to cover Arman Tsarukyan’s dramatic win over Urijah Faber. During media day, he asked Kyle Snyder about the possibility of facing Khamzat Chimaev.

Snyder responded: “I think it could be interesting.” While he wasn’t aware of the signing at the time, he spoke highly of the idea.