ALF Grappling Books Masvidal vs. Chimaev
Jorge Masvidal and Khamzat Chimaev will meet in a submission-only match headlining ALF League 1 in Dubai.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
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ALF Grappling has announced a submission-only match between Jorge Masvidal and Khamzat Chimaev, which will headline the brand's inaugural event, ALF League 1, on December 4 in Dubai. Red Corner MMA confirmed the news on social media, and ticket details will be announced soon.
Why it matters
The bout pairs two fighters whose recent results have moved in opposite directions, with Chimaev rebounding from a UFC title loss and Masvidal searching for a finish. The submission-only format tests grappling skill in a setting outside the traditional UFC framework.
Masvidal holds two submission wins across 52 professional MMA fights, a modest finishing record for a fighter known for striking. Since losing the middleweight title in May, Chimaev has won four RAF wrestling matches, against Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns, and Robbie Lawler, while the full ALF League 1 undercard remains unannounced.
The players
Jorge Masvidal
A longtime welterweight contender known as "Gamebred," Masvidal has also competed in boxing and is returning to the cage for this grappling-only bout.
Khamzat Chimaev
A Chechnya-born wrestler who lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland in May, Chimaev has since competed in RAF wrestling matches.
ALF Grappling
A grappling promotion staging its inaugural event, ALF League 1, in Dubai.
The details
The match is a submission-only format, meaning the bout ends only by tapout or submission rather than by decision or knockout. Masvidal's most recent MMA loss came against Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in Miami, where Burns took him down four times and controlled him for almost six minutes.
Timeline
2023: Masvidal announced his retirement from MMA.
2024: Masvidal lost to Nate Diaz in boxing.
May 2026: Chimaev lost his UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland.
November 1, 2026: ALF Grappling announced the Masvidal-Chimaev match.
December 4, 2026: The bout takes place at ALF League 1 at The Agenda in Dubai.
Season Trajectory
Masvidal's 2024 boxing loss to Nate Diaz marked a departure from his MMA career, and this grappling bout extends that pattern of cross-discipline competition. Chimaev's RAF wrestling run since his May title loss signals a similar move beyond the UFC's traditional octagon.
Fans following Masvidal or Chimaev should watch for ticket details, which are expected soon, and track the rest of the ALF League 1 card as it is finalized. The submission-only rules mean the outcome will hinge on grappling control rather than striking exchanges.
The takeaway
Cross-discipline matchups like this one test whether a fighter's grappling holds up outside the rules they are known for, and results will shape how much weight such bouts carry in future promotions.
Further reading
Explore more Mixed Martial Arts coverage for context on fighters moving between disciplines.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloody Elbow.
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