Khamzat Chimaev headlines RAF Abu Dhabi on 14 November: the card so far

Khamzat Chimaev will headline Real American Freestyle's first Middle East card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on 14 November. His opponent has not been named and is expected in the coming weeks.

One thing to be clear about before you plan the night: RAF is a freestyle wrestling promotion, not MMA. Chimaev is wrestling, not fighting a cage bout.

Who else is on it

RAF has confirmed these names without matchups:

• Arman Tsarukyan
• Henry Cejudo
• Jordan Burroughs
• Kyle Snyder
• Abdulrashid Sadulaev

Sadulaev and Snyder between them hold the most decorated freestyle record on the card. Burroughs is an Olympic and multiple-time world champion. Cejudo and Tsarukyan are the crossover draws.

Why Abu Dhabi, and why it matters here

RAF, whose chief executive and co-founder is Chad Bronstein, has signed a five-year partnership with Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and the UAE Wrestling Federation. That makes the emirate a fixed stop on its calendar rather than a one-off.

For Pakistani fans this is the nearest big combat-sports venue that runs cards of this size. Etihad Arena is on Yas Island, the same venue the UFC has used for its Abu Dhabi shows, and there are direct flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Time and money

Abu Dhabi runs on UTC+4, one hour behind Pakistan. A card that starts at 8pm local is 9pm in Karachi, so there is no overnight wait, unlike a US pay-per-view.

Tickets are priced in dirhams. The dirham is trading at about Rs 75.48, so a AED 300 seat is roughly Rs 22,600 before flights and hotel. Check the live rate on our dirham page or run the numbers in the currency converter before you book.