The Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion is set to make its Middle East debut on November 14 with an event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, featuring four Arab fighters making their RAF debuts. Bahrain’s Hamza Kooheji and Murtaza Talha, Jordan’s Ali AlQaisi, and Egypt’s Osama Elsaidy will compete in a showcase aimed at putting regional talent on a global platform.
RAF Abu Dhabi will highlight a series of high-profile matchups, including the Cruiserweight Crossover Championship between Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington. Additionally, Arman Tsarukyan, the UFC’s top-ranked lightweight contender, is scheduled to face Neiman Gracie, a three-time World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu bronze medallist, in a Catchweight Crossover bout.
The event is the first under a new five-year agreement involving Real American Freestyle, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the UAE Wrestling Federation. Chad Bronstein, co-founder and CEO of RAF, emphasized the promotion’s mission to provide a stage where fighters can compete, share their stories, and showcase their skills globally. “Bringing RAF to Abu Dhabi gives us an opportunity to put Arab talent on that stage,” he said.
Among the regional athletes, Kooheji and AlQaisi will meet in a lightweight contest contested under freestyle wrestling rules. AlQaisi, who became the first Jordanian to compete in the UFC in 2020, is considered a key figure in the region’s combat sports scene. Kooheji described their matchup as a defining contest for the best grappler in their weight class across the Arab world, expressing excitement over the exposure and competition RAF offers.
In another regional bout, Egypt’s Osama Elsaidy will face Bahrain’s Murtaza Talha in a light heavyweight fight. Elsaidy cited RAF’s innovative approach to professional wrestling as a significant draw. “It combines strength, skill, and spectacle in a different kind of experience,” he said. He also referenced Egypt’s rich wrestling traditions as foundational to his discipline and technique, expressing a strong sense of pride in representing his country on this high-level platform.
RAF is distinguished as the world’s first unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league, attracting a range of athletes from Olympic champions and world medallists to NCAA standouts and MMA crossover fighters. The Abu Dhabi event aims to blend competitive wrestling with entertainment, contributing to increased visibility for the sport and its athletes in the Middle East. Local fans will be watching closely to assess how the region’s fighters perform alongside established international stars.