Real American Freestyle has signed a five-year partnership with the
Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling
Federation, with the agreement beginning Nov. 14 at Etihad
Arena.

Khamzat
Chimaev will headline RAF's debut event in the Middle East,
with his opponent to be announced in the coming weeks. Arman
Tsarukyan, Henry
Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev
are also set to compete, with their matchups still to be
revealed.

Real American Freestyle signs five-year partnership with Abu
Dhabi

Chimaev has become one of RAF's crossover attractions since joining
the promotion. The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder made
his RAF debut against Dillon
Danis before facing Tyron
Woodley in Moscow and Gilbert
Burns at RAF 13.

The Abu Dhabi event marks RAF's third international show in its
first year, following events in Tbilisi and Moscow. The new
partnership will establish Abu Dhabi as a recurring stop on the
promotion's international calendar.

“From day one, our ambition has been to bring RAF to the world's
great sports markets, and there is no better place for this next
chapter than Abu Dhabi,†RAF CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein
said. “Abu Dhabi is one of the premier destinations for combat
sports, with the vision and infrastructure to deliver events that
resonate globally. This five-year partnership gives us the
opportunity to make RAF Abu Dhabi a signature event and build
something meaningful for athletes, fans and the region for years to
come.â€

The Nov. 14 card will feature a mixture of Olympic champions, world
champions, NCAA standouts, and crossover athletes from wrestling
and mixed martial arts, with additional matchups and event details
to be announced soon.

RAF IS COMING TO ABU DHABI. 🇦🇪@KChimaev
headlines our UAE debut on November 14 at Etihad Arena.

More of the biggest names in wrestling and combat sports to be
announced.

Khamzat's opponent coming soon.

RAF ABU DHABI. NOV 14.

Register your interest at link in bio. pic.twitter.com/lDN1rX0zbg

— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA)
September 21, 2026

Shavkat
Rakhmonov's recovery and rehabilitation from multiple leg
injuries is seemingly moving in the right direction.

The undefeated welterweight recently shared footage on his
Instagram stories, in which he's seen doing some light wrestling
work. Rakhmonov hasn't competed since December 2024, with multiple
injury setbacks preventing a return to competition. However, the
recent video he and his coach shared online could be a sign of good
things to come.

Shavkat Rakhmonov continues recovery after calling for Islam
Makhachev matchup

Rakhmonov (19-0) was working on his clinch work in the video shared
on Instagram. He appears to be in good spirits and, notably, didn't
have a protective boot on his leg as he did in a recent
interview.

While speaking to AFL Global in an interview posted on Sept. 6, the
Kazakh was wearing a full protective boot. He's now boot-free and
gunning for an Octagon return, evidenced by his comments in said
interview, wherein he said he matches up well with current
welterweight champ Islam
Makhachev.

Rakhmonov expressed frustration after Makhachev did not mention him
among the leading 170-pound contenders, prompting the latter to
respond that he would consider the matchup once “Nomad†has
recovered and returned to action in the UFC.

“Well, Rakhmonov gave an interview recently with a huge brace on
his knee and he says he wants to fight,†Makhachev said during a
media scrum. “Choose him and wait for 1.5 years? Let him recover
and he will become one of the contenders.â€

😅🇰🇿 Islam
Makhachev responds to Shavkat
Rakhmonov who wasn’t happy with him not being mentioned as the
next contender:

“He gave an interview with a huge brace on his knee. He wants me to
choose him and then wait for 1.5 years for him to recover?”

🎥 MATCH TV pic.twitter.com/u5ayP5D7zz

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
September 9, 2026

Michael
Morales and Ian Garry
appear to have reached an agreement.

Garry came up short in his maiden title bid in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC
330, losing to Islam
Makhachev via decision. The Irishman is now looking to re-enter
the title mix by beating unbeaten welterweight Morales, who's open
to the matchup.

Michael Morales accepts Ian Garry's Nov. 28 proposal for a UFC
fight in Saudi Arabia

Morales has shared a screenshot of his DMs with Garry wherein they
agree to fight in November. The latter initially questioned the
former's availability claims, speculating that he's avoiding the
matchup.

“I wanna fight before the end of the year and I'm being told you're
not available,†Garry wrote. “You were able to be the back up for
the world title fight but not able to take a fight with me now?
You've also asked to be a back up for the next title fight, but
still not available to fight with me? Looks like someone is
avoiding me. Talk all that sh*t online then don't agree to fight?
What's going on here?â€

Morales responded by making his position clear:

“My son, what are you talking about? I fight whenever you want I
just want a contract and that's it I'll kick your *ss.â€

Garry responded:

“Saudi, Nov. 28. Let's do it.â€

Morales accepted, but it remains to be seen whether the UFC will
put the matchup together. Carlos
Prates is widely considered the next challenger to Makhachev's
title, making Garry vs. Morales a pivotal title eliminator.