Real American Freestyle’s (RAF) big debut in Abu Dhabi is quickly shaping up to be the most stacked card in the promotion’s short history, with even bigger names in MMA added.
RAF Abu Dhabi will touch down from the Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday 14 November and the main event took place between cruiserweight crossover champion Colby Covington and former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. Also of interest to MMA fans: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Uriah Faber and Zabit Magomedsharipov vs Old Giga.
Now the RAF has announced two new bouts with names that will stick out to UFC fans.
Top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is set Dillon to face Danis In the main event of the RAF event on 14 October. Now he will also compete a month later in Abu Dhabi against Bellator veteran Neiman Gracie, who retired Jon Fitch with a heel hook in 2020. Tsarukyan hopes to bounce back from a decision loss to Colby Covington at RAF 11 in July.
Bella Mir also returns to the RAF for the first time since her loss to Alexis Gomez at RAF 3 in November 2025. He bounced back from that loss and won two UFC BJJ matches, but lost the pivotal Contender Series fight with Alex Apodaca in August, which has many wondering if his hype train will ever really get going.
Mir will have a tough time at RAF Abu Dhabi, facing women’s middleweight champion Kennedy Blades, who has not dropped a single point in her time with the wrestling promotion.
On the pure wrestling side, Jordan Burroughs faces Azamat Nurykau, Kyle Dake takes on Turkmenistan’s Alp Arslan Begenjov, and Kyle Snyder takes on Shamil Erdogan.
Real American Freestyle events are only broadcast on FOX Nation, but keep it locked MMAmania.com for all the event highlights.
