Overview
- RAF will make its Middle East debut at Etihad Arena on Saturday, November 14 as part of a five-year partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling Federation.
- RAF announced on Monday that Colby Covington has withdrawn from the main event due to injury after a recent submission loss and that former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman will replace him.
- Chimaev and Weidman will now headline the card and compete for the newly billed RAF Light Heavyweight Crossover Championship.
- The card still features a stacked crossover roster including Arman Tsarukyan, Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili, Kyle Dake, Kyle Snyder and Jordan Burroughs, and tickets are on sale via Etihad Arena and Ticketmaster with broadcasts on Fox Nation in the U.S. and Starzplay in MENA.
- The switch underscores RAF's reliance on high-profile MMA names and the logistical risks of quick turnarounds, with prior on-stage melees and heated rivalries increasing the challenge of keeping an unscripted fight-night card intact.