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Tag: RAF

  • Khamzat Chimaev Books Surprise June 13 Return Against Polarizing MMA Star After UFC 328 Defeat

    Khamzat Chimaev Books Surprise June 13 Return Against Polarizing MMA Star After UFC 328 Defeat

    Khamzat Chimaev isn’t wasting any time getting back into competition after suffering the first loss of his professional MMA career at UFC 328.

    Just days after dropping the middleweight title to Sean Strickland in a grueling five-round battle, Chimaev already has his next matchup booked, though it won’t take place inside the Octagon.

    Instead, “Borz” will return to the wrestling mats next month as part of Real American Freestyle’s upcoming RAF 10 event in St. Louis.

    The matchup marks Chimaev’s promotional debut for RAF and his first official wrestling appearance in several years.

    His opponent will be none other than Dillon Danis, the controversial grappling specialist and longtime combat sports agitator who recently competed under the RAF banner against former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington.

    Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dillon Danis Booked For RAF 10

    RAF officially announced the matchup on Tuesday, confirming the bout will headline RAF 10 on June 13 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.

    The event comes less than a week after “Borz” lost a split decision to Strickland at UFC 328, ending both his undefeated MMA streak and his short-lived middleweight title reign.

    While the Chechen star remains focused on eventually reclaiming UFC gold, the RAF appearance gives him an opportunity to stay active without immediately jumping back into another brutal MMA training camp.

    It also potentially signals the beginning of his long-rumored move to light heavyweight. Chimaev has openly discussed being finished with difficult middleweight weight cuts, and competing in a heavier wrestling matchup could serve as a transition toward a future UFC run at 205 pounds.

    Danis, meanwhile, enters the matchup looking to rebound after losing to Covington via technical fall during his RAF debut earlier this year. Once viewed as one of the elite grapplers in the sport, Danis initially rose to prominence as a training partner of Conor McGregor before building his own polarizing reputation through MMA, boxing, and social media controversies.

    RAF 10 will also feature additional high-profile names, including Tony Ferguson vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Aaron Pico vs. Lance Palmer.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Signs To Compete In RAF

    Khamzat Chimaev Signs To Compete In RAF

    UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will be able to use his grappling skills in a new kind of environment, as Chimaev has signed a deal to compete with RAF.

    RAF announced Chimaev’s signing during the RAF 08 broadcast on April 18.

    No opponent, event, or date for Chimaev was named during the announcement.

    Chimaev began wrestling as a youth, going on to win a national youth title in Russia.

    Chimaev won three gold medals in freestyle wrestling at Swedish Nationals. He also holds a win over Jack Hermansson in wrestling.

    Chimaev is scheduled to defend his UFC middleweight championship on May 9 against former champ Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328.

  • RAF 08 Results: Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili

    RAF 08 Results: Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili

    UPDATE: Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from tonight’s main event. Urijah Faber vs. Arman Tsarukyan has been promoted from co-main event to main event.

    RAF 08 results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main event will feature a middleweight matchup between Urijah Faber and Arman Tsarukyan. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Urijah Faber vs. Arman Tsarukyan – Middleweight Main Event

    The originally scheduled main event would have seen the RAF debut of Merab Dvalishvili, taking on Henry Cejudo. The two had competed at UFC 298, with Dvalishvili taking a clear decision win.

    Cejudo, however, has withdrawn from tonight’s event due to an injury.

    Since 2021, Faber, the UFC Hall of Famer, has competed in various Combat Grappling and wrestling tournaments. Tsarukyan competed in the main event of RAF 07, defeating Georgio Poullas in their highly anticipated and heated rematch from RAF 06 — where the two got into a post-match altercation.

    The RAF light heavyweight title will be on the line tonight when Kyle Snyder defends against Rizabek Aitmukhan, and Helen Maroulis defends the RAF women’s flyweight title against Alexis Janiak.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from RAF 08!

    How to Watch RAF 08

    • Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
    • Venue: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Streaming: FOX Nation (Exclusive)
    • Start Time: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    RAF 08 Results & Highlights

    Full Card Results (FOX Nation, 8 PM ET)

    Lightweight Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo

    Result: BOUT CANCELED DUE TO CEJUDO INJURY

    Middleweight Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber

    Result: Arman Tsarukyan def. Urijah Faber via technical fall (13-1)

    RAF Light Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan

    Result: Kyle Snyder def. Rizabek Aitmukhan via points (12-6)

    Cruiserweight: Zahid Valencia vs. Aeoden Sinclair

    Result: Zahid Valencia def. Aeoden Sinclair via points (8-2)

    Heavyweight: Anthony Cassioppi vs. Shamil Sharipov

    Result: Shamil Sharipov def. Anthony Cassioppi via pin (2:45)

    RAF Women’s Flyweight Championship: Helen Maroulis vs. Alexis Janiak

    Result: Helen Maroulis def. Alexis Janiak via technical fall (10-0)

    Featherweight: Real Woods vs. Anthony Ashnault

    Result: Real Woods def. Anthony Ashnault via points (7-2)

    Middleweight: Jason Nolf vs. Joey Blaze

    Result: Jason Nolf def. Joey Blaze via points (11-2)

    Featherweight: Vladimer Khinchegashvili vs. Johnni DiJulius

    Result: Vladimer Khinchegashvili vs. Johnni DiJulius via points (8-5)

    Lightweight: Lance Palmer vs. Cayden Henschel

    Result: Lance Palmer def. Cayden Henschel via points (3-2)

    Featherweight: Jordan Oliver vs. Mike Vanbrill

    Result: Jordan Oliver def. Mike Vanbrill via points (5-0)

    Bantamweight: Darian Cruz vs. Lucas Byrd

    Result: Lucas Byrd def. Darian Cruz via points (2-2) (Byrd gets tiebreaker by being last to score)

  • Arman Tsarukyan Gets Takedown, Wins Feud With Georgio Poullas

    Arman Tsarukyan Gets Takedown, Wins Feud With Georgio Poullas

    The bad blood between Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas has apparently been settled, as Tsarukyan broke free with a huge display in the third period against Georgio Poullas in the RAF 07 main event in Tampa, Florida.

    The two felt each other out early, looking for control early in lockups, with things appearing chippy early. The two were competitive during the first period, with Tsarukyan scoring a point due to Poullas not scoring in the 30-second shot-clock time.

    There was a brief delay to start the second period, as Poullas needed one of his hands wrapped up and toweled off. After about two minutes, the period started. Poullas looked for an underhook but was denied. Poullas was put on shot-clock time again, and while he got a front headlock, he was unable to score again, giving Tsarukyan another point.

    Tsarukyan shot in for a takedown in the closing seconds of the period, but Poullas remained on his feet.

    Tsarukyan scored another point early in the third period, pushing Poullas out of bounds with double-unders. Tsarukyan got a front headlock and scored two points for exposure. Poullas scored a takedown, though Tsarukyan got a push out, bringing the total to 5-3 Tsarukyan after that flurry.

    Poullas needed a takedown, but it was Tsarukyan who got behind Poullas and scored a takedown in the closing seconds, giving him a 9-3 victory.

    Arman Tsarukyan Defeats Georgio Poullas In Rematch At RAF 07

    This was a rematch of their bout from RAF 06. Tsarukyan won that matchup on points as well, but Poullas fouled Tsarukyan during the matchup, prompting the two to have a post-match brawl.

    Tsarukyan is now 3-0 in RAF after making his debut with a win over Lance Palmer at RAF 05.

    Poullas is now 1-2 in RAF, also making his debut at RAF 05 in a technical fall win over Keelon Jimison.

  • Poullas Out of Grappling Match with Tsarukyan, Wants RAF Rematch

    Poullas Out of Grappling Match with Tsarukyan, Wants RAF Rematch

    Less than 24 hours after it was first announced, Georgio Poullas has bowed out of a submission grappling match that was scheduled against Arman Tsarukyan.

    Per Ariel Helwani, with confirmation from RAF executive Chad Bronstein, the grappling contest was scheduled for March 11 at Hype FC Brazil, but Poullas has pulled out.

    Poullas, instead, is pushing for a wrestling rematch with Tsarukyan at an upcoming RAF event.

    During an interview with Helwani earlier in the day, Poullas noted that a contract had not been formally signed for the grappling match with Hype FC Brazil.

    Tsarukyan won the contest at RAF 6 on February 28, scoring a 5-3 win. But the story from that event took place immediately after the match, when an altercation between the two broke out.

    Tsarukyan shoved Poullas down and looked to throw down punches before RAF officials intervened to separate the pair. Tsarukyan has claimed that it was in retaliation to dirty tactics employed by Poullas during the bout, including punches and slaps while in close.

    Video footage showed Tsarukyan’s corner crying foul at Poullas’ actions.

    Tsarukyan expressed no remorse for his actions, while Poullas called Tsarukyan a “little b****” and claimed he was the true winner for scoring a legitimate takedown in the match.

    RAF officials have expressed disappointment that the brawl occrued; however, the promotion has not handed down any punishment toward Tsarukyan or Poullas as of press time.