Khamzat Chimaev Set to Battle Colby Covington in High-Stakes Headline Bout at RAF Abu Dhabi

The UAE's Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to face Colby Covington in the main event at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14. The pair will compete for the Cruiserweight Crossover Championship when they square off at Etihad Arena.

Chimaev, a renowned combat sports figure and former UFC middleweight champion, will perform in front of a home audience, bringing his dynamic approach to a showdown with Covington, a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler, former interim UFC welterweight champion, and one of RAF’s leading wrestlers.

Both competitors enter this championship meeting with undefeated records in RAF. Additional combat sports stars including Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, and Abdulrashid Sadulaev are also scheduled to perform in Abu Dhabi, with their respective opponents and further matches to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Recently, the RAF established a five-year agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the UAE Wrestling Federation to host RAF events in Abu Dhabi.

“Abu Dhabi is one of the premier destinations for combat sports, with the vision and infrastructure to deliver events that resonate globally,” stated Chad Bronstein, CEO and co-founder of RAF. "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.”

RAF Abu Dhabi represents the organization's third international event during its inaugural year, following international showcases in Tbilisi, Georgia and Moscow, Russia, alongside a sold-out event held in September.