Khamzat Chimaev will headline the debut event of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling organization in Abu Dhabi on November 14. The event, held at Etihad Arena, follows a five-year partnership between RAF, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, and the UAE Wrestling Federation.
The expansion into the Middle East marks a significant strategic push for Real American Freestyle. According to reporting from UA, the Abu Dhabi event will be the league’s third international show in its first year, following previous outings in Moscow, Russia, and Tbilisi, Georgia. The Moscow event reportedly drew a sold-out crowd.
The Etihad Arena Card and UFC Crossovers
While the main event features Khamzat Chimaev, his opponent has not yet been officially named. However, Chimaev hinted during a recent press conference for RAF 13 that he may face Colby Covington. While not confirmed, Covington has stated he is open to the matchup.
This wrestling run follows his loss to Sean Strickland in May, a result that has led Chimaev to push for a rematch.
He isn’t the only high-profile MMA star crossing over. Tsarukyan is coming off a knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331.
The card is shaping up to be a gathering of elite grappling talent.
- Kyle Snyder
- Jordan Burroughs
- Abdulrashid Sadulaev
Strategic Partnership with Abu Dhabi
The move to the UAE is anchored by a five-year deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism and the UAE Wrestling Federation. For Chimaev, the location is personal. As a naturalized citizen of the UAE who represents the country internationally, the venue is practically in his backyard.
“Abu Dhabi’s going to be crazy. Arena will be five minutes from me, from my house. So it will be cool for Abu Dhabi and wrestling. We started it to make it bigger, now I’m a part of this as well, so for me it’s a big thing.”
Khamzat Chimaev, via MMA Fighting
Beyond the marquee names, the event aims to build a local pipeline. Bronstein noted that the trip will include the first RAF Next Gen event in the area. Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Tahnoon, Secretary General of the UAE Wrestling Federation, described the partnership as an important step to strengthen the UAE’s global wrestling position and support upcoming athletes.
The Universal Language of the Mat
The aggressive international expansion is based on the premise that wrestling transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. The promotion is leveraging this shared identity to attract a global audience and diverse athlete pool, including NCAA representatives and Olympic champions.
“They always say the international lanuguage is wrestling. A wrestler sees another wrestler, they immediately speak the same language. They understand what they’ve been through — the trials and tribulations — in this sport… the highs and the lows. It’s an immediate respect thing.”
Izzy Martinez, RAF co-founder, via MMA Fighting
By blending the prestige of Olympic-style wrestling with the star power of UFC athletes, RAF is attempting to create a hybrid sports product that appeals to both traditional wrestling fans and the broader combat sports community.
Scheduling Conflict with UFC 334
The timing of the November 14 event creates a direct clash with one of the biggest nights in MMA. According to Bloody Elbow, RAF Abu Dhabi falls on the same night as UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.
The UFC card features heavyweight gold on the line between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit, as well as a bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison. This scheduling overlap suggests a bold move by RAF, positioning its debut Abu Dhabi event as a primary alternative for combat sports fans on that date.
Unresolved Matchups and Next Steps
While the roster of athletes is confirmed, the specific matchups remain the biggest unknown. The promotion has promised to announce Chimaev’s opponent soon, but the lack of a confirmed fight for the other stars—Snyder, Burroughs, Sadulaev, and Cejudo—leaves the actual structure of the card in question.
The success of the event will likely depend on whether RAF can convert the “crossover” interest of UFC stars into a sustainable wrestling audience in the Middle East, all while competing for eyeballs against a major UFC title event in New York.