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Kazakhstan's own UFC fighter, Asu Almabayev, has signed a contract with the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling promotion, marking a significant expansion of his combat sports career. This move allows the lightweight contender to compete in both mixed martial arts (MMA) under the UFC banner and in freestyle wrestling with RAF.

Dual Competition Ahead

The RAF promotion announced that Almabayev is among 10 new athletes to sign with the league. The 32-year-old fighter will now showcase his skills not only in the octagon with the UFC but also on the wrestling mat in the RAF league. While his debut in the RAF league is not yet scheduled, Almabayev is preparing for his next UFC bout.

Upcoming UFC Fight

Almabayev is set to face Charles Johnson on June 27th at the UFC Fight Night 280 event, which will take place at the Crystal Hall arena in Baku. This upcoming fight follows a notable victory for Almabayev, where he defeated American fighter Alex Perez before the scheduled three rounds were complete. His win was secured in the third round with a stunning spinning back kick followed by a successful guillotine choke submission.

RAF League's Growing Roster

The Real American Freestyle league has been attracting notable talent. In April, another Kazakhstani athlete, freestyle wrestling world champion Rizabek Aitmuhan, competed in the league, though he lost his title fight to Kyle Snyder. Additionally, UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev also reportedly signed with the RAF promotion around the same time.

This move by Asu Almabayev highlights a growing trend of athletes diversifying their competitive platforms across different combat sports disciplines.

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