RAF Abu Dhabi Featuring Khamzat Chimaev and Merab Dvalishvili Live Updates, Highlights, Results

Chris Weidman gave a pretty good account of himself against the much younger Khamzat Chimaev in the RAF Abu Dhabi main event, but ultimately lost by tech fall (10-0).

With the win, Chimaev defends the RAF light heavyweight crossover title. He's now 5-0 on the RAF mats, with other over Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, Dillon Danis, and Gilbert Burns.

"It feels amazing," he said in his post-match interview with Chael Sonnen.

"Anyone who wants to fight, wrestle, grapple, whatever," he added when asked what's next. "I'm always ready."

After 12 entertaining matchups involving some legends of MMA and wrestling, we've reached the main event: a clash of former UFC middleweight champs in Khamzat Chimaev and Chris Weidman.

Chimaev, who very recently reigned over the UFC middleweight division, was originally supposed to take on Colby Covington on this card, but turned his attention to Weidman when that matchup fell through. 

He's known for his suffocating wrestling in the cage, but so was Weidman, who was a very successful collegiate wrestler. 

The big variable in this one will be age and mileage, as Weidman is much older, and took a lot of abuse in the final chapters of his MMA career.

Let's see how it goes. 

As expected, Arman Tsarukyan was totally dominant in his catchweight clash with former Bellator star Neiman Gracie. The top UFC lightweight contender came out on top via tech fall in less than two minutes, despite a significant size disadvantage.

It's his ninth win on the RAF mats.

"Size don't matter," he said in his post-fight interview with commentator Chael Sonnen. "Especially in wrestling.

"I was super prepared."

He then teased a future matchup with Jordan Burroughs, which would be huge.

It's now time for the RAF Abu Dhabi co-main event: a catchweight clash between former Bellator standout Neiman Gracie and top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan, who has more RAF experience than just about anyone, is the big favorite to win here, as Gracie is more of a BJJ specialist than a wrestler. 

Let's see if Gracie can somehow play the spoiler. 

Zabit Magomedsharipov looked awesome in his return to competition, defeating fellow UFC featherweight veteran Giga Chikadze by tech fall (10-0).

That marks a successful RAF debut for the Russian. That's great for him, but most people would still prefer to see him return to MMA. He was a special talent in the sport.

For some reason, he didn't get a post-fight interview. That's too bad, because it would have been nice to hear what he has planned in terms of continued competition in combat sports.

Remember Zabit Magomedsharipov? The Russian was once one of the most promising young talents in all of MMA, but shocked the world when he announced his retirement from the sport before even reaching his prime.

Up next, Magomedsharipov will return to action against another UFC featherweight veteran in Georgia's Giga Chikadze. 

Neither guy has ever really been known for their wrestling in the cage, but this catchweight matchup should be fun either way.

Abdulrashid Sadulaev has once again affirmed his reputation as one of the best wrestlers ever, defeating Dauren Kurugliev by points (8-5) in their light heavyweight matchup.

After the win, his second in a row on the RAF mats, he called for a showdown with Kyle Snyder.

The card rolls on with a light heavyweight clash between Russian wrestling legend Abdulrashid Sadulaev, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Greece's Dauren Kurugliev, a European Games gold medalist and Olympic bronze medalist. 

This should be a good one. 

As expected, RAF cruiserweight champ Kyle Dake was totally in control of his title clash with Alp Arslan Begenjow, defending his belt via tech fall.

That's now six title defenses for the decorated wrestler.

Post-match, he welcomed a clash with Zahid Valencia, who called him out after a win earlier on the card. He also called out former UFC middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev, who will take on Chris Weidman in the main event.

Up next, we've got a cruiserweight clash between Kyle Dake and Alp Arslan Begenjow. 

Dake, a five-time world champion, currently holds the RAF cruiserweight strap. He'll be looking for his sixth title defense against Turkmenistan's Begenjow, a 2024 junior world champ.

Saba Lazishvili, who was labelled "The BMF of RAF" on the Jumbotron, has won his RAF debut by points, defeating MMA legend Urijah Faber 12-7.

It was an extremely impressive performance from the rising combat sports star and Merab Dvalishvili stablemate, who bounced back from an early points deficit against a much larger opponent.

As he walked off the mats, he was touted "wrestling's new biggest star" by commentator Chael Sonnen. That may be a bit of an overstatement, but there's no question he's got the full attention of the combat sports world right now.

Our next matchup will be contested at middleweight, with former WEC champ and multiple time UFC title challenger Urijah Faber taking on Saba Lazishvili. 

While Faber needs no introduction, Lazishvili might for some. If you missed it, he's the guy who helped Merab Dvalishvili fend off multiple attackers in an ugly brawl with Usman Nurmagomedov's team earlier this week. 

That gutsy performance not only made him an immediate combat sports star, but earned him the opportunity to replace Umar Nurmagomedov in this matchup with Faber. 

Jordan Burroughs didn't finish his match with Azamat Nurykau, but he came close, winning via points (9-0) after three periods.

It was an absolutely lopsided performance from the 38-year-old legend, who is back on track after a loss to Mikey Caliendo in Las Vegas last month.

"Arman Tsarukyan is scared to wrestle to me," he said in his post-fight interview with commentator Chael Sonnen.

Shots fired!

Up next, former Olympic gold medalist and bona fide wrestling legend Jordan Burroughs will return to the RAF mats for a middleweight matchup.

He'll be taking on Belarusian Azamat Nurykau, who he has beaten on the mats before. This will be his opportunity to rebound from a tough loss to Mikey Caliendo.

As expected, Kyle Snyder dominated Shamil Erdogan in Abu Dhabi, winning with a score of 11-0.

That marks six successful RAF title defenses for the Olympian.

He capped off the dominant performance by calling for a matchup with Wyatt Hendrickson.

It's now time for our second championship bout of the night, as Kyle Snyder defends his light heavyweight title against Shamil Erdogan. 

Snyder, who famously won world, NCAA and Olympic championships in the same year, is one of the best in the sport. This will be his fifth title defense under the RAF banner.

His opponent, a former ONE Championship fighter who holds wins over the likes of Aung La N Sang, is going to be seriously outgunned here. 

After three periods, Murtaza Talha has defeated Osama Elsaidy by points with a score of 10-4.

That marks a successful RAF debut for the former Contender Series hopeful.

The action rolls on with a light heavyweight clash between Bahrain's Murtaza Talha, a Contender Series veteran, and Egypt's Osama Elsaidy, who has competed for the PFL.

Both guys are making their RAF debuts. Let's get to it. 

Julianna Pena's return to competition didn't go as planned, as she suffered a first-period fall against Diana Avsaragova. It was an arm spin that led to the end of the match.

Up next, another decorated MMA fighter will take to the mats, as former UFC women's bantamweight champ Julianna Pena takes on Diana Avsaragova, an MMA transplant with experience in the Bellator and PFL cages. 

Both women have showed strong wrestling in the cage, but Pena should have the edge here, if she's anywhere near top form. 

Let's get to it.

Merab Dvalishvili gave up two points early in his catchweight clash with Marlon Moraes, but ultimately got the win via fall in round 1.

That's got to feel good after he failed to reclaim the UFC bantamweight belt from Petr Yan a few weeks back.

Next up, former UFC bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili returns to the RAF mats—despite getting jumped and bloodied by Usman Nurmagomedov and co. earlier this week. He'll be taking on former WSOF champion Marlon Moraes, who he defeated by TKO in the UFC in 2021. 

It'll be Dvalishvili's first time competing since failing to reclaim UFC bantamweight gold from Petr Yan.

Moraes has a great BJJ game, but it's unlikely to help him much in this one.

Here we go.

After a close and physical matchup, Zahid Valencia has defeated Khidir Saipudinov via points (4-2).

After the matchup, he called for a title opportunity opposite cruiserweight champ Kyle Dake, who defends his belt later on this card.

Up next, we've got a cruiserweight matchup between 2025 world champion Zahid Valencia and Dagestan's Khidir Saipudinov, who has built an impressive record himself on the Eurasian circuit. Both guys have some good momentum heading into this match.

It should be underway in minutes.

Kennedy Blades is still the RAF women's middleweight champ after defeating Bella Mir by tech fall in less than two minutes.

With that, her incredible run of dominance continues.

"I'm feeling good," she told commentator Chael Sonnen after the match. "I'm glad I shared the mat with Bella."

From the sounds of it, her next challenger will be Alexis Gomez in Chicago.

After a rousing performance from the Abu Dhabi Police Band, we finally appear to be underway...

Time for that Kennedy Blades vs. Bella Mir matchup.

While the RAF Abu Dhabi broadcast actually went live before its scheduled 11:00 am ET start time, the announcer just revealed that the action will now begin in 15 minutes. So, we've got a bit of a wait on our hands—and a perfect opportunity to top up your coffee before the first matchup gets underway.

RAF Abu Dhabi is live, and the first of 13 matchups should begin in minutes.

We'll kick things off with a women's middleweight title matchup, as 2024 Olympic silver medalist and reigning champ Kennedy Blades takes on challenger Bella Mir. 

Mir, a decorated wrestler in her own right, is the daughter of heavyweight MMA legend Frank Mir, and will be looking to rebound from a tough setback on Dana White's Contender Series earlier this year.

Let's get to it.

We're about 10 minutes out from today's RAF card in Abu Dhabi.

Here's what's on deck for this morning and afternoon. As you can see there are multiple former UFC champs—and some legendary wrestlers—set to compete.

Not a bad appetizer for tonight's UFC 334 card at all!