Two-time Olympic gold medalist Abdulrashid Sadulaev has signed with the rapidly growing wrestling promotion Real American Freestyle, shelving any immediate plans to transition into mixed martial arts despite high-profile backing from Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Sadulaev, widely regarded as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time, won Olympic gold in 2016 and again in 2022 and owns a remarkable career record of 160-6. Known as “The Russian Tank,” he is one of only two wrestlers in history to win world championships across three different weight classes and holds notable victories over American rival Kyle Snyder.
Last year, Nurmagomedov publicly urged UFC president Dana White to sign Sadulaev, even suggesting a sensational matchup with Jon Jones. Those MMA ambitions now appear on hold after RAF confirmed Sadulaev has agreed to an exclusive deal, preventing him from competing for any other professional wrestling organization.
“RAF today announced that Abdulrashid Sadulaev, one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of the sport, has signed an exclusive agreement to compete professionally with RAF,” the promotion said in a statement, adding that he will compete only at RAF events.
Real American Freestyle has gained significant attention since launching last year, drawing crossover appeal by featuring well-known UFC names such as Bo Nickal and Colby Covington. Sadulaev’s signing further strengthens the promotion’s credentials and signals its intent to attract elite, world-class talent.
While no debut date has been confirmed, fans have already begun calling for a high-profile rematch between Sadulaev and Snyder. RAF’s next event is scheduled for February 28, headlined by Henry Cejudo vs Urijah Faber, with anticipation growing over when the Olympic legend will finally step onto a RAF mat.
