TLDR
- Real American Freestyle announced a five-year deal with Abu Dhabi with debut event on November 14
- Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will headline RAF Abu Dhabi against an opponent to be announced
- Colby Covington says he would break Chimaev in a wrestling match due to cardio advantages
- Covington actually prefers a trilogy match with Kamaru Usman over facing Chimaev
- Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev also confirmed for the card
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Real American Freestyle has announced a major five-year deal with Abu Dhabi, with their debut event scheduled for November 14 at Etihad Arena. Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will headline the card against an opponent yet to be named.
The promotion recently added several high-profile UFC stars to the event. Arman Tsarukyan, who knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-headliner on Saturday in Los Angeles, is expected to compete on the card.
Olympic wrestlers Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, and Abdulrashid Sadulaev are also confirmed for the event. Their opponents have not been announced yet.
Chimaev went 3-0 under the RAF banner after defeating Gilbert Burns in the co-main event of RAF 13 in Florida last Friday. During the post-fight press conference, he suggested he would face Colby Covington, who won the main event against Belal Muhammad with a 10-0 technical fall.
RAF signs five-year Abu Dhabi deal as Khamzat Chimaev headlines Etihad Arena debut on November 14, bringing elite wrestling and combat sports to the UAE https://t.co/1l4TuijO77 pic.twitter.com/8TrI10di15
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) September 21, 2026
Covington Claims Cardio Would Break Chimaev
Covington has now spoken out about the potential matchup with Chimaev. He believes his wrestling style and endurance would give him a major advantage.
“I think I would break Khamzat. He doesn’t have the cardio to keep up with me,” Covington told Submission Radio. “He has those quitter tendencies. I will bring those quitter tendencies out of him if that’s the next matchup.”
The former UFC welterweight title challenger has built his career around a high-pressure wrestling style. He constantly pushes the pace and forces opponents to work throughout matches.
Covington also set conditions for the fight. He wants the match to happen at 185 pounds and will not move up to the 200-pound weight class to face Chimaev.
While Covington said he was open to facing Chimaev, he has a different preference. After his victory at RAF 13, he revealed he would rather face Kamaru Usman for a trilogy match.
Usman Trilogy Tops Covington’s Wish List
“You know, it’s a long list of guys, and thankfully, RAF has so much good talent for me to really challenge and test myself,” Covington said. “But of course, the Marty Fake Newsman, we have unfinished business. That trilogy is a huge matchup. So that’s probably the top of the list.”
Covington and Usman have fought twice in the UFC. Usman stopped Covington at UFC 245 in 2019 and won by unanimous decision at UFC 268 in 2021.
Covington has continued to dispute those results. He sees wrestling as a chance to settle the rivalry under different rules.
Beyond Chimaev and Usman, Covington has mentioned several other potential opponents. He named Gilbert Burns, Michael Chandler, Sean Brady, and Arman Tsarukyan as possible matchups.
The RAF Abu Dhabi event represents the promotion’s first show in the United Arab Emirates. The five-year deal signals the organization’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region.
For now, Chimaev’s opponent at the November 14 event remains unconfirmed. While a Covington matchup appears possible, the former UFC star has made it clear his top choice would be facing Usman instead.
