Chael Sonnen says Khamzat Chimaev is the rare kind of champion willing to face anyone, anywhere, as the undefeated UFC middleweight prepares for a crossover into the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion.
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) recently revealed he has signed a deal to compete under the RAF banner. His debut with the organization is expected to come after he defends his UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 next month. The move has already sparked speculation about potential matchups against elite wrestlers, including Olympic gold medalists Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev, as well as fellow UFC middleweight Bo Nickal.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen said Chimaev’s mindset sets him apart from most champions in combat sports.
“Let me share something behind the scenes that I know, that I have access to: Chimaev will take on anybody,” Sonnen said. “And it's very difficult to find somebody like that. To find a reigning sitting world champion who doesn't need the money, doesn't need the attention. To find somebody that likes to compete so much that he is going into a different organization just for the chance to shake hands and compete. Behind the scenes, I can tell you, Chimaev will take on anybody.”
Among the possible matchups, Sonnen pointed specifically to a clash with rising UFC contender Bo Nickal as one that intrigues him.
“I like Bo Nickal,” Sonnen said. “I would really be interested in Chimaev versus Bo Nikal. Chimaev is well aware that Sadulaev is under contract (with RAF). He's well aware that he's been called out by Kyle Snyder. And nowhere, even privately, has Sadulaev said, 'Keep me away from this guy, put me in this weight class. I don't want to take on (and then fill in the blank), I don't want to take on a pure wrestler. I don't want to take on a fellow MMA fighter.’”
Sonnen added that Chimaev’s approach reflects a traditional wrestling mentality, where competitors face whoever steps onto the mat, regardless of reputation or stylistic challenges.
“It's one of these things and you've got to deal with. You've got to deal with this with top talent everywhere that they go,” Sonnen said. “But the history of wrestling says otherwise. The history of wrestling says you show up, you get on the scale, and you take on whoever else showed up and got on the scale. It turns out, Chimaev's that guy. And Chimaev understands the code.”
