Chimaev takes on Masvidal in submission-only grappling at ALF League's Dubai debut

Khamzat Chimaev and Jorge Masvidal are set to meet on the grappling mat when ALF League holds its inaugural event on Dec. 4 at The Agenda in Dubai. The submission-only match headlines the card and marks another chapter in Chimaev’s busy post-title schedule.

The bout will be Chimaev’s sixth non-MMA appearance since dropping the UFC middleweight championship to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 this past May. The Chechen-Swedish fighter has been a regular fixture on the RAF circuit, submitting former UFC champions Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley, welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, and Dillon Danis. He is also booked to face Colby Covington in the main event of RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, meaning the ALF League clash with Masvidal follows just weeks later.

For Masvidal, the Dubai appearance continues a stretch of activity outside the UFC octagon. The Miami native, known as “Gamebred,” lost a boxing decision to Nate Diaz in July 2024 and has repeatedly hinted at a return to MMA competition, though no fight has been formalised.

The pairing brings together two of the sport’s most recognisable names in a format that strips away striking and tests pure grappling credentials. Chimaev’s wrestling pedigree — built through years of high-level competition and a string of dominant UFC performances — makes him a heavy favourite on the mat, while Masvidal’s willingness to take the match signals his continued desire to stay relevant in combat sports.

ALF League’s choice to anchor its first event with this matchup reflects the growing market for high-profile grappling exhibitions in the Gulf region, a space that RAF has already cultivated with considerable success.