Umar Nurmagomedov Faces Urijah Faber at RAF Abu Dhabi

Umar Nurmagomedov is leaving the Octagon behind for the wrestling mat, signing with Real American Freestyle and drawing Urijah Faber for his promotional debut at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14 at Etihad Arena.

The move comes at a strange moment for Nurmagomedov, who was coming off back-to-back decision wins over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo before getting stopped by Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Shanghai in August. That knockout loss snapped what had looked like a clean path back to title contention after Nurmagomedov dropped a decision to then-champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 in January 2025. Instead of chasing an immediate rebooking in the cage, the 30-year-old Dagestani will make his first appearance in RAF's freestyle format against a 46-year-old opponent who is 0-2 since joining the promotion.

Why Faber Is a Tough Style Matchup, Not Just an Easy Debut

Faber's RAF run so far has been rough. "The California Kid" lost by technical fall to Henry Cejudo in the main event of RAF 6 in February, then suffered the same fate against Arman Tsarukyan two months later at RAF 8. Those are two of the more accomplished wrestlers in combat sports, and Faber has nothing to show for either fight in the win column.

Nurmagomedov brings a different kind of résumé to this matchup. He's built his UFC career on suffocating grappling and feels like a very different puzzle for Faber than Cejudo or Tsarukyan presented, given his sambo background and heavy top control. For a promotion built entirely around freestyle wrestling, a sambo stylist with a strong mat pedigree is a notable test case, and Nurmagomedov should be considered a significant favorite walking into his debut.

What This Means for Nurmagomedov's MMA Future

Nurmagomedov stepping into RAF doesn't read as a retirement from MMA, it reads as a chance to get back on the winning track in a different format after his first finish loss. A clean result in Abu Dhabi lets him walk away from the Song Yadong setback with momentum heading back into bantamweight title conversations, rather than sitting on a loss with no answer. For Faber, this is already his third RAF appearance in less than a year, and a third loss would be a tough marker for a fighter trying to find his footing in the format at 46.

Books haven't been shy about lining up heavy favorites across RAF cards so far, and given the gap in level and recent form between these two, expect Nurmagomedov to open as a sizable favorite once markets post a line. For bettors, the more interesting number may end up being on the method and time, not the winner, given how dominant the format's top grapplers have looked finishing previous opponents early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Umar Nurmagomedov fighting at RAF Abu Dhabi?

Umar Nurmagomedov faces Urijah Faber at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14 at Etihad Arena, marking his debut with Real American Freestyle.

What is Umar Nurmagomedov's last fight result?

Umar Nurmagomedov lost by knockout to Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Shanghai in August, snapping a two-fight win streak over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo.

What is Urijah Faber's record in Real American Freestyle?

Urijah Faber is winless in Real American Freestyle, having lost by technical fall to Henry Cejudo at RAF 6 and to Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 8.