The Real American Fighter (RAF) wrestling league has announced matchups across three upcoming events. Khamzat Chimaev meets Tyron Woodley and Abdulrashid Sadulaev faces Braunagel at RAF Moscow on September 5, while Kyle Snyder takes on Tazhudinov and Nikal meets Muradov on the same card. Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad and Luke Rockhold vs. Pifer are set for RAF 13 in Miami on September 18, with Arman Tsarukyan vs. Denis scheduled for RAF 14 in Las Vegas on October 23.
The Real American Fighter wrestling league has unveiled a packed slate of matchups across three upcoming events, with several prominent mixed martial arts names set to compete under the RAF banner this fall.
Headlining RAF Moscow on September 5, Khamzat Chimaev squares off against Tyron Woodley, while Abdulrashid Sadulaev faces Braunagel on the same card. Kyle Snyder and Tazhudinov are also scheduled to meet that night, as are Nikal and Muradov. The action then shifts to Miami on September 18 for RAF 13, where Colby Covington meets Belal Muhammad and Luke Rockhold takes on Pifer. RAF 14 closes out the run on October 23 in Las Vegas, with Arman Tsarukyan booked against Denis.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1-0 record and is ranked first in the middleweight division, placing him tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Allstars Training Center product representing the United Arab Emirates averages 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes and lands significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy clip, among the highest marks in the sport.
Belal Muhammad, 38, brings a 24-5-0 record into his matchup with Covington. Fighting out of Roufusport and ranked seventh at welterweight, the Orthodox-stance striker known as "Remember the Name" averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute and contributes more than two takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Rockhold, the 41-year-old southpaw out of American Kickboxing Academy, carries a 16-6-0 career record into his bout with Pifer. Standing six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach, he averages 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and has posted one submission attempt per fifteen minutes throughout his career.
Why it matters
- RAF Moscow, RAF 13, and RAF 14 represent a concentrated burst of high-profile MMA talent competing in a wrestling-league format across three countries.
- Chimaev's appearance is notable given his top-ranked middleweight status and elite grappling credentials.
- The Covington-Muhammad pairing features two established welterweights with recognizable profiles inside and outside the cage.
- Rockhold's inclusion signals continued activity for the veteran former champion at 41 years old.
