Khamzat Chimaev to Headline RAF's Abu Dhabi Debut Nov. 14

Khamzat Chimaev will headline RAF's first event in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, with his opponent still to be announced.

The card marks the wrestling promotion's debut in the United Arab Emirates, part of a new five-year agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism. RAF previously ran successful shows in Georgia and Moscow before making the jump to the Gulf.

"Abu Dhabi's going to be crazy," Chimaev said. "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."

Who Else Is Competing in Abu Dhabi

Chimaev headlines a loaded card that includes UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, fresh off a knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. Tsarukyan is scheduled to fight Dillon Danis in the main event of RAF 14 in October, then turn around and wrestle in Abu Dhabi just weeks later.

RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein confirmed the wrestling lineup runs deep. "The concrete thing is that Chimaev will be the main event in Abu Dhabi," Bronstein said. "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."

Two-division former UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo is also expected to wrestle on the card. The event will also host the first RAF Next Gen show in the region.

RAF co-founder Izzy Martinez framed the international expansion as a mission to grow wrestling globally. "They always say the international language is wrestling," Martinez said. "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."

What This Means for Chimaev

This is a grappling exhibition, not an MMA bout, so it won't touch Chimaev's UFC record or standing in the middleweight division. But headlining a promotion's debut show in his adopted home city, a short drive from where he actually lives, says plenty about his current pull outside the cage. RAF has leaned on him as a centerpiece since he's become one of the sport's biggest attractions, and putting him atop a new market's first card is as clear a signal of that value as any. With no opponent named yet, there's nothing to price competitively at this stage. The number to watch here isn't a betting line, it's whether RAF names a credible wrestling opponent capable of testing Chimaev on the mat rather than serving as a showcase.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Khamzat Chimaev's next fight?

Khamzat Chimaev is set to headline RAF's debut event in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, though his opponent has not yet been announced.

Is Arman Tsarukyan fighting in Abu Dhabi?

Arman Tsarukyan is scheduled to wrestle on the same Nov. 14 RAF card in Abu Dhabi, just weeks after his October main event against Dillon Danis at RAF 14.

What is RAF's Abu Dhabi event?

RAF's Abu Dhabi show is the wrestling promotion's first event in the UAE, part of a new five-year deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism, headlined by Khamzat Chimaev.