Overview
- Real American Freestyle announced on Thursday that Khamzat Chimaev will face Tyron Woodley in the main event of RAF Moscow on Sept. 5 and that the show will stream live on FOX Nation in the United States.
- RAF also confirmed heavyweight Anatoly Malykhin will meet Pouya Rahmani on the Sept. 5 undercard, with additional bouts for the Moscow card expected to be named in the coming weeks.
- Tyron Woodley is still scheduled to fight Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on Aug. 22, a result that would give him a short turnaround between the Cleveland show and the Sept. 5 Moscow headliner if both bouts proceed.
- Khamzat Chimaev returned to RAF in June with a first-period pin of Dillon Danis and is using the wrestling matches to stay active while he pursues a possible rematch after losing the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland in May.
- The announcements highlight RAF's growth strategy of staging overseas cards with recognizable MMA names and a U.S. streaming deal, a model that raises practical questions about fighter readiness, quick scheduling and contingency plans if results or injuries force changes.