Robbie Lawler is returning to the wrestling mats.
On Wednesday, Real American Freestyle announced that Lawler will make his promotional debut, taking on former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in a catchweight bout at RAF 14 next month.
Before the UFC Hall of Famer took up MMA, he was an all-state high school wrestler in Bettendorf, Iowa, but never wrestled beyond that. This will be the first time the 44-year-old former UFC welterweight champion has competed since retiring from MMA in 2023 after knocking out Niko Price at UFC 290.
A three-time Swedish national wrestling champion, Chimaev began competing in RAF this summer, after losing the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. “Borz” is 2-0 in RAF, with fall wins over Dillon Danis and Tyron Woodley.
RAF 14 takes place on Oct. 23 at Fontainebleu in Las Vegas and is headlined by an RAF title bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Dillon Danis.
