Real American Freestyle (RAF) has secured a long-term foothold in the Middle East, announcing a five-year agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the UAE Wrestling Federation. This strategic partnership kicks off on Saturday, November 14, at the Etihad Arena, where global combat sports icon Khamzat Chimaev will headline the league’s inaugural event in the region. Fans are being encouraged to sign up at VisitAbuDhabi.ae for early ticket access.
Chimaev, who holds UAE citizenship and represents the country on the international stage, is expected to draw a massive home crowd. While his specific opponent remains TBD, the event will feature a stacked lineup of elite talent, including world-class athletes like Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, and Abdulrashid Sadulaev. The card will ultimately feature a diverse mix of Olympic champions, world titleholders, NCAA standouts, and high-profile crossover stars from both wrestling and MMA backgrounds.
Reflecting on the expansion, RAF CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein noted the organization’s goal to reach premier global sports hubs. “From day one, our ambition has been to bring RAF to the world’s great sports markets, and there is no better place for this next chapter than Abu Dhabi,” Bronstein said. He added that the city’s vision and existing infrastructure for combat sports make it an ideal setting for what he expects to be a signature recurring event.
Local officials are equally optimistic about the impact on the region’s sporting landscape. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Secretary General of the UAE Wrestling Federation, emphasized that the five-year deal is a vital step for the sport’s domestic growth. He highlighted that bringing elite international athletes to the capital will strengthen the UAE’s global wrestling profile and inspire a new generation of local competitors.
Echoing these sentiments, Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, stated that the partnership aligns with the city’s broader efforts to host world-class sporting properties. He remarked that the initiative provides both local fans and international visitors with access to top-tier combat sports, ensuring Abu Dhabi remains a key fixture on the global event calendar.
This move follows a period of rapid growth for the league, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary at RAF12 in Cleveland. Since its inception, the platform has scaled significantly, hosting sold-out shows and expanding its international reach with events in Tbilisi and Moscow. By securing this long-term commitment in the UAE, RAF is looking to leverage the region’s deep enthusiasm for wrestling and professional combat entertainment as it continues to evolve its global calendar and development programs like RAF NEXT GEN. The report also notes that fans are encouraged to register their interest early for the November 14 event at VisitAbuDhabi.ae for the best chance to secure tickets. The report also notes that in 12 months, the league has grown from its inaugural event in Cleveland into a year-round sports platform, staging sold-out events, building a global roster of Olympic champions, World champions and combat sports stars. The report also notes that chimaev’s opponent will be announced in the coming weeks.
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