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Olympic champion Kyle Snyder has revealed a rare exception to his rule of not wrestling UFC fighters. While his primary focus remains on elite wrestling competition as he prepares for the upcoming World Championships, Snyder has slightly shifted his stance on potential matchups with UFC stars.
Having defended his RAF 8 title just a month after defeating Olympic champion Ahmed Tajudinov, Snyder has numerous opportunities ahead. Although he initially dismissed the idea of facing UFC fighters, who are increasingly showing interest in RAF events, he now acknowledges one individual he'd be keen to challenge: UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev boasts a strong wrestling background but stepped away from international competition to concentrate on his MMA career, where he has become a major star.
"I've watched clips of him wrestling, and I think he's pretty good," Snyder stated about Chimaev in an interview with MMA Fighting. "He's like Arman [Tsarukyan] – you watch him wrestle and you're like, 'Wow, he's pretty good.' They know what they're doing. So, I think that's an interesting match. Obviously, he's a beast in the octagon, and I've seen him on the mat too.""I've seen clips of him wrestling [Abdulrashid] Sadulaev and others in the room, and I can tell he's a very good wrestler. For me, that would be one of the few matches I'd be interested in," he added.
The fact that Chimaev trains with multiple Olympic gold medalist Abdulrashid Sadulaev – one of Snyder's biggest rivals – is a significant testament to his skills.
While Snyder continues to assert his desire to only face the best in wrestling, especially with his goal of a fourth Olympic appearance in 2028, he believes Chimaev could offer an intriguing challenge within the RAF format.
"What I like about Khamzat is that he's fearless," Snyder said. "At least he competes without fear and with an alpha mindset. I think he would approach a wrestling match the same way. His conditioning is obviously one of his strongest attributes, as is his will to win. I'd be excited. I think the preparation would be fun."
Chimaev is currently preparing for his first title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May. However, with RAF hosting monthly events, Snyder appreciates the opportunity to stay active while preparing to win his fifth World Championship later this year.
Among other interesting names that caught his attention, Snyder mentioned NCAA champion Wyatt Hendrickson, who is also aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Another name is 2020 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, who will debut at RAF 9 in May and make his first UFC appearance in July.
"There's an interesting balance because you have the RAF matches, but you also have to make the World Team and wrestle at the World Championships," Snyder explained. "So there's a bit of timing involved. I don't want to wrestle heavy guys right before those events. But at the right time, I'd be happy to wrestle all the guys you mentioned."
A match between Snyder and Steveson would be one of the biggest RAF could organize, given that both are American Olympic gold medalists. As they compete in different weight classes, it's unlikely their paths would cross in a standard tournament. This is precisely why Snyder likes the RAF platform – it offers him opportunities for such unique matchups while he pursues his ultimate goal: another Olympic gold medal.
"So, I wrestled heavyweight in college, so I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing me wrestle Gable, Wyatt, or any of the other heavy competitors. Yes, God willing, that will happen in the future."
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