Lawler Returns To Face Chimaev At RAF 14

Robbie Lawler is coming out of retirement to wrestle Khamzat Chimaev.

Real American Freestyle announced Wednesday that the UFC Hall of Famer will face the former UFC middleweight champion in a catchweight bout at RAF 14 next month, per MMA Fighting. The event takes place Oct. 23 at Fontainebleu in Las Vegas.

Lawler's First Match Since UFC Retirement

The 44-year-old former welterweight champion last competed in 2023, when he stopped Niko Price at UFC 290 before hanging up his gloves. Lawler was an all-state high school wrestler in Bettendorf, Iowa, but never competed beyond that level until now.

Chimaev, a three-time Swedish national wrestling champion, has gone 2-0 in RAF since losing the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. He has finished both Dillon Danis and Tyron Woodley by fall this summer.

The main event features an RAF title bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Danis.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Khamzat Chimaev wrestles Robbie Lawler at RAF 14