Khamzat Chimaev is set to headline RAF’s next international event!
The debut show takes place November 14th, with Chimaev in the main event against an opponent yet to be announced.
Chimaev told MMA Fighting:
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.
Chimaev won’t be the only current UFC star on the card.
Arman Tsarukyan, coming off a knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, is also set to compete in Abu Dhabi – just weeks after facing Dillon Danis in the main event of RAF 14 in October.
RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein confirmed the growing lineup for the card:
The concrete thing is that Chimaev will be the main event in Abu Dhabi. Arman will be wrestling in Abu Dhabi.
Kyle Snyder will be wrestling in Abu Dhabi, Jordan Burroughs is wrestling in Abu Dhabi, Sadulaev is wrestling in Abu Dhabi.So it’s going to be an incredible card.
RAF co-founder Izzy Martinez framed the international expansion as central to the sport’s broader growth:
They always say the international language 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.
So everybody immediately respects each other in this league and they’re moving forward so that’s exciting.
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