RAF Moscow
| RAF Moscow: Chimaev vs. Woodley | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for RAF Moscow: Chimaev vs. Woodley | ||||
| Promotion | Real American Freestyle | |||
| Date | September 5, 2026 | |||
| Venue | Mytishchi Arena | |||
| City | Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast, Russia | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
RAF Moscow: Chimaev vs. Woodley was a freestyle wrestling event produced by the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion that took place on September 5, 2026, at the Mytishchi Arena in Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast, Russia.[1][2][3][4][5]
As a result of ongoing U.S. sanctions against Russia related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Fox Nation declined to go through with plans to air the event.[6][7][8]
Background
[edit]This marked the promotion's debut in Russia. The original venue was VTB Arena, but the promotion announced the change of venue to Mytishchi Arena on the week of the event.[9]
A catchweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev and former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley headlined the event.[1]
In addition, three championship bouts took place:
- A RAF Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between current champion (also 2016 Olympic gold medalist) Kyle Snyder and 2024 Olympic gold medalist Akhmed Tazhudinov. Snyder defeated Tazhudinov at RAF 07 by criteria decision in March 2026 to claim the vacant title.[10] Snyder previously lost to Tazhudinov at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the semi-finals as well as the 2023 World Wrestling Championships.[11]
- A RAF Cruiserweight Championship rematch between champion Kyle Dake and Arsenii Dzhioev was scheduled for the event, but Dzhioev withdrew and was replaced by 2020 Summer Olympics silver medallist in men's 74 kg Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau. They previously met at RAF 05, when Dake won by decision. Dake previously lost to Kadzimahamedau in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Summer Olympics.[12]
- A RAF Women's Middleweight Championship bout between current champion (also 2024 Olympic silver medalist) Kennedy Blades and Vusala Parfianovich.
A catchweight bout between Sharabutdin Magomedov and former Bellator Middleweight World Champion Alexander Shlemenko was scheduled for this event. However, Shlemenko withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Neiman Gracie.[13][14]
Fight card
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Catchweight |  Khamzat Chimaev |
def. |  Tyron Woodley |
Pinfall | 1 | 1:34 | |
| Light Heavyweight |  Abdulrashid Sadulaev |
def. | Zac Braunagel |
Decision (8-6) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Cruiserweight | Zahid Valencia |
def. | Ibragim Kadiev |
Decision (9-5) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Cruiserweight | Sharabutdin Magomedov |
def. |  Neiman Gracie |
Decision (11-3) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Kyle Snyder (c) |
def. |  Akhmed Tazhudinov |
Decision (11-5) | 3 | 2:00 | [a] |
| Cruiserweight | Kyle Dake (c) |
def. |  Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau |
Decision (7-6) | 3 | 2:00 | [b] |
| Middleweight | Jordan Burroughs |
def. | Magomed Kurbanaliev |
Technical fall (10-0) | 3 | 0:35 | |
| Women's Middleweight | Kennedy Blades (c) |
def. | Vusala Parfianovich |
Technical fall (10-0) | 1 | 1:31 | [c] |
| Light Heavyweight | Bo Nickal |
def. | Shirvani Muradov |
Decision (11-8) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Catchweight | Jason Nolf |
def. | Ismail Khaniev |
Decision (criteria) (5-5) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Heavyweight |  Pouya Rahmani |
def. | Anatoly Malykhin |
Decision (10-3) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Middleweight | Yusuf Raisov |
def. | Marif Piraev |
Technical fall (12-2) | 2 | 0:39 | |
| Featherweight | Vito Arujau |
def. | Soslan Ramonov |
Technical fall (13-3) | 3 | 0:11 | |
- ↑ For the RAF Light Heavyweight Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Cruiserweight Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Women's Middleweight Championship.
Bonus awards
[edit]The following athletes received bonuses.[16]
- Match of the Night: Kyle Dake vs. Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau and Jason Nolf vs. Ismail Khaniev
- Performance of the Night: Vito Arujau
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Harvey Leonard (2026-07-30). "Khamzat Chimaev's return against former UFC champion set to headline RAF Moscow". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- ↑ Mike Bohn (2026-07-30). "Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley headlines RAF Moscow in Russia". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- ↑ Brett Okamoto (2026-07-30). "Chimaev to wrestle Woodley in Sept. 5 RAF event in Moscow". espn.com. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- ↑ Jesse Holland (2026-07-30). "Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley booked for RAF on Sept. 5 in Moscow". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- ↑ Alex Pattle (2026-07-30). "Khamzat Chimaev's next bout official as he faces former UFC champion in Russian homecoming". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- ↑ Khalatyan, Rafael (2026-09-07). "RAF showdown thrills Moscow crowds". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
- ↑ Leonard, Harvey (2026-09-05). "Can you watch Khamzat Chimaev's return? RAF Moscow loses United States streaming option". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
- ↑ Behunin, Alexandez (September 2, 2026). "Sanctions? FOX Nation refuses to stream Khamzat Chimaev-led RAF Moscow over potential U.S. violations". MMA Mania. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-09-03). "RAF Moscow venue update". x.com. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ Richard Immel (2026-03-29). "Snyder edges Tazhudinov in battle of Olympic champions at RAF 07; Dake, Blades, Hendrickson retain belts". themat.com. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ Damon Martin (2026-03-29). "Olympic champion Kyle Snyder has no interest in facing UFC fighters in RAF: 'I want to wrestle the best guys'". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ David Gerhart (2026-02-25). "Lee rolls to gold at Muhamet Malo Ranking Series; U.S. finishes day one with six medals". themat.com. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ Oscar Nascimento (2026-08-16). "Shlemenko out of Sept. 5 Moscow bout vs. Shara Bullet". agentmma.com. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Sourav Chakraborty (2026-08-25). "Shara Bullet vs. Neiman Gracie booked for grappling contest". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-07-30). "RAF Moscow: Chimaev vs. Woodley". realamericanfreestyle.com. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-09-07). "Dake vs. Kadik and Nolf vs. Khaniev share Match of the Night honors at #RAFMOSCOW". x.com. Retrieved 2026-09-13.