TLDR
- Khamzat Chimaev will face Tyron Woodley in the main event of RAF Moscow on September 5
- The bout marks RAF’s first event in Russia and Chimaev’s second appearance for the promotion
- Woodley fights Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on August 22 before facing Chimaev two weeks later
- Former ONE Champion Anatoly Malykhin faces undefeated Pouya Rahmani in the co-main event
- The event will stream live on Fox Nation in the United States
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | mmasucka.com
Real American Freestyle announced Thursday that Khamzat Chimaev will face Tyron Woodley in the main event of RAF Moscow on September 5. The matchup brings together two former UFC champions in the promotion’s first event in Russia.
Chimaev, a former UFC middleweight champion, will make his second appearance for RAF after defeating Dillon Danis in his promotional debut. The 32-year-old fighter known as “Borz” has remained active outside the UFC while his next assignment in the organization remains uncertain.
Woodley, a former UFC welterweight champion, faces a demanding schedule heading into the Moscow bout. The veteran fighter is set to make his RAF debut against Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on August 22, then return less than two weeks later to face Chimaev on September 5.
Chimaev Staying Active Between UFC Fights
Chimaev has expressed interest in a rematch with Sean Strickland following their title fight. However, with Strickland still recovering from injury, the UFC has not confirmed a rematch date.
Khamzat Chimaev returns to headline RAF MOSCOW against former MMA champion Tyron Woodley.
KHAMZAT CHIMAEV.
TYRON WOODLEY.
RAF MOSCOW.
SEPTEMBER 5.Tickets coming soon. Join the presale list at the link in bio.
Watch live on @foxnation in the U.S. Additional international… pic.twitter.com/xsPbtU9QXq
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) July 30, 2026
The Chechen-born fighter’s decision to compete for RAF allows him to stay active while waiting for his next UFC opportunity. His first RAF appearance against Danis generated attention both for his victory and the post-fight altercation that followed.
RAF officials confirmed the event will stream live on Fox Nation in the United States. International broadcast details will be announced at a later date.
Former ONE Champion Added to Moscow Card
The Moscow card received another boost with the addition of Anatoly Malykhin in the co-main event. The former three-division ONE Championship titleholder will make his RAF debut against undefeated heavyweight Pouya Rahmani.
Malykhin enters the bout with a 15-1 professional MMA record. The 38-year-old Russian recently reclaimed the ONE heavyweight championship and holds the distinction of being the first fighter to capture major MMA championships across three different weight classes.
He previously held world titles at heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight in ONE Championship. His opponent Rahmani brings a 6-0 undefeated record and recent experience competing under the PFL banner.
Rahmani, based in the UAE, most recently defeated Ali Isaev in ACBJJ competition. The heavyweight brings a solid grappling background to his matchup with the decorated Russian champion.
Real American Freestyle launched in 2025 and has featured established MMA stars competing between UFC fights. The promotion announced that tickets for RAF Moscow will go on sale soon, with a presale list available through the organization’s official channels.
The September 5 event marks RAF’s first international card outside the United States. The promotion has built its roster by attracting fighters from the UFC and other major organizations during their periods between contracted fights.
