WAM reports that RAF Abu Dhabi will be the promotion's first Middle East show. The event is set for November 14, 2026, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Umar Nurmagomedov will face Urijah Faber there. Tickets are on sale through Etihad Arena.
Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington will meet for the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover title, according to Real American Freestyle promotional materials. Their matchup was announced earlier. Nurmagomedov and Faber add another well-known pairing from mixed martial arts.
MMA Junkie lists Nurmagomedov's MMA record as 20-2 overall and 8-2 in the UFC. His most recent bout was a knockout loss to Song Yadong in August 2026.
Nurmagomedov meets Faber on the wrestling card
Nurmagomedov is a leading bantamweight in mixed martial arts. He has seven submission victories in the sport. He is from Dagestan, and the Nurmagomedov family is well known in combat sports. MMA Junkie reports that this will be his RAF debut.
Faber, nicknamed "The California Kid," is a former mixed martial arts champion and the founder of Team Alpha Male. He will make his third RAF appearance. He is still seeking his first win in the promotion, according to MMA Fighting.
Two established combat-sports names. The main title bout remains at the centre of the card.
MMA Fighting reports that Faber's two previous RAF appearances ended in tech-fall losses: to Henry Cejudo at RAF 6 in February 2026 and to Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 8 in April 2026.
Snyder defends his RAF standing against Erdogan
Current RAF light heavyweight champion Kyle Snyder is also scheduled to face Shamil Erdogan. Snyder was the youngest American to win a senior world title in wrestling. In the six months before winning and defending the RAF light heavyweight title, he defeated four wrestlers who had previously won Olympic medals.
Erdogan is a Turkish athlete born in Dagestan. He has a freestyle wrestling background and an undefeated professional mixed martial arts record. This will be his first RAF bout.
Abu Dhabi hosts RAF's first Middle East event
The event is part of a five-year partnership between Real American Freestyle, the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling Federation. WAM reports that the agreement supports RAF's planned expansion beyond earlier shows in Tbilisi and Moscow. The promotion is bringing its Abu Dhabi tournament to the region.
Nurmagomedov and Faber join Snyder-Erdogan and the Chimaev-Covington title contest. That gives RAF Abu Dhabi a draw beyond its headline belt. The event is a major stop in the organisation's international expansion, not just its first Middle East show.
