RAF Moscow Ditches VTB Arena Days Before Chimaev-Woodley
RAF Moscow moves from VTB Arena to Arena Mytishchi days before Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley amid U.S. sanctions concerns.
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RAF Moscow has moved its Saturday, September 5, 2026 event from VTB Arena to Arena Mytishchi, relocating the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley card just two days before it takes place.
Real American Freestyle announced the change in a press release Thursday, telling ticket holders that the original venue would send instructions on how to update their tickets. The promotion gave no explanation for the switch.
Why Did RAF Move The Venue?
RAF never stated a reason for the change, but the timing lines up closely with reporting that raised sanctions concerns around VTB Arena. That venue is operated by VTB Arena LLC, a subsidiary of BM-Bank, which is owned by VTB Bank, both of which are subject to United States sanctions tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions experts had flagged that RAF holding an event there likely conflicted with rules that generally bar American citizens and businesses from transactions with those entities without special Treasury Department approval. RAF has not confirmed it moved the show for that reason, and CEO Chad Bronstein did not address the sanctions issue in Thursday's statement, instead focusing on the card itself: "Moscow has been one of the events we've been most excited about since we started building RAF. Look at the athletes on this card: Olympic and world champions alongside some of the biggest names in wrestling and combat sports."
FOX Nation had said it would not stream the Moscow event over the same concerns, and it remains unclear whether shifting the card to Arena Mytishchi changes that decision.
What's The Card At Arena Mytishchi?
Khamzat Chimaev meets Tyron Woodley in the headliner, a matchup of two former UFC champions now crossing over into RAF's freestyle wrestling format. Abdulrashid Sadulaev takes on Zac Braunagel in the co-main event. The rest of the lineup includes Kyle Snyder against Akhmed Tazhudinov, Kyle Dake against Kadik, and Kennedy Blades against Vusala Parfianovich, with Jordan Burroughs and Bo Nickal also competing on the card.
Betting Angle
A last-minute venue swap doesn't change the matchups, but it does add a layer of uncertainty for bettors trying to gauge broadcast access and any potential disruption to fight week logistics. If FOX Nation's streaming decision shifts along with the venue, that alone could affect how much betting attention and liquidity the card draws in the U.S. market. For now the wrestling itself is unaffected, Chimaev vs. Woodley headlines as planned, and sharp bettors should watch for any updates on broadcast availability before the card goes off Saturday night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did RAF move the Moscow event to a new venue?
RAF did not give an official reason, but the change came shortly after reports that holding the event at VTB Arena likely violated U.S. sanctions tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, since the venue is linked to sanctioned banks VTB Bank and BM-Bank.
Is Khamzat Chimaev still fighting Tyron Woodley?
Yes, Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley remains the headline matchup for RAF Moscow on Saturday, September 5, 2026, now held at Arena Mytishchi instead of VTB Arena.
Who else is on the RAF Moscow card?
The card also features Abdulrashid Sadulaev vs. Zac Braunagel, Kyle Snyder vs. Akhmed Tazhudinov, Kyle Dake vs. Kadik, and Kennedy Blades vs. Vusala Parfianovich, with Jordan Burroughs and Bo Nickal also competing.
