RAF Abu Dhabi: Full match card, start time for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Chris Weidman on Saturday
Real American Freestyle (RAF) heads to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena this Saturday, Nov. 14, for a stacked RAF Abu Dhabi match card, headlined by a championship match between former UFC middleweight titleholders Khamzat Chimaev and Chris Weidman.
Chimaev (3-0 RAF) returns to the wrestling mats after previously smashing through Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler in short order. The fearsome UFC standout was initially scheduled to challenge Colby Covington for the RAF cruiserweight crossover championship, however Covington withdrew from the matchup on Monday.
In his stead steps in Weidman (0-1 RAF), who brings an extensive wrestling background of his own to the promotion’s newly-booked light heavyweight crossover championship match. A former NCAA Division I All-American, Weidman famously ended Anderson Silva's historic UFC middleweight championship reign in 2013. He suffered a hard-fought 5-4 loss to Covington in his only RAF appearance this past May.
Follow along with Uncrowned throughout Saturday's event for RAF Abu Dhabi live results, match-by-match updates and highlights.
When is RAF Abu Dhabi? Start time and how to watch
RAF Abu Dhabi will stream live on FOX Nation in the United States, beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.
International viewers in the Middle East and North Africa can watch live on STARZPLAY, while the rest of the world can watch live on RAF's YouTube channel.
What else is on RAF Abu Dhabi's match card?
The co-main event features RAF middleweight crossover champion Arman Tsarukyan facing off former Bellator contender Neiman Gracie in a catchweight non-title match. Retired UFC contender Zabit Magomedsharipov also returns against fellow featherweight veteran Giga Chikadze, as do UFC stars Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov in matchups against Marlon Moraes and Urijah Faber, respectively.
Aside from the MMA flavor of the lineup, several elite freestyle wrestlers are also set to compete in championship matches, as Kyle Dake defends his RAF cruiserweight title against Alp Arslan Begenjov, Kyle Snyder faces Shamil Erdogan for the RAF light heavyweight championship, and Kennedy Blades defends her RAF middleweight belt against Bella Mir, the daughter of UFC legend Frank Mir.
RAF Abu Dhabi full match card (11 a.m. ET, FOX Nation)
Light heavyweight crossover championship: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Chris Weidman
Catchweight crossover: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Neiman Gracie
Welterweight crossover: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Giga Chikadze
Light heavyweight: Abdulrashid Sadulaev vs. Dauren Kurugliev
Cruiserweight championship: Kyle Dake vs. Alp Arslan Begenjov
Lightweight crossover: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Urijah Faber
Middleweight: Jordan Burroughs vs. Azamat Nurykau
Light heavyweight championship: Kyle Snyder vs. Shamil Erdogan
Light heavyweight crossover: Murtaza Talha vs. Osama Elsaidy
Middleweight crossover: Diana Avsaragova vs. Julianna Peña
Catchweight crossover: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Marlon Moraes
Cruiserweight: Zahid Valencia vs. Khidir Saipudinov
Middleweight championship: Kennedy Blades vs. Bella Mir












