KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi, the fight capital in the region, is ready to debut a fairly new promotion, Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF), and the organisers are going all out to ensure the combat sport event is a big hit.
The buzz was evident on the media day and face-offs ahead of Saturday night's fight card, headlined by a blockbuster Light Heavyweight Crossover Championship clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Chris Weidman at the Etihad Arena.
Looking ahead to Saturday night, founders Chairman and CEO Chad Bronstein and COO Izzy Martinez,Bronstein compared stepping into Etihad Arena to competing at New York’s Madison Square Garden, noting the promotion's five-year commitment to developing the sport locally alongside Sunday's inaugural international youth event.
Chief operating officer Izzy Martinez echoed the enthusiasm for the stacked line-up, which features athletes from 12 nations. "There's three title fights. There's five world champions, seven Olympic medalists, and four UFC champions. So this card is stacked. The best wrestlers in the world, the best fighters in the world are here to put on a show. And it's an honour to be in this country," Martinez said.
In the main event, unbeaten UFC star Chimaev will face former UFC middleweight champion Weidman, who stepped in on six days' notice to replace the injured Colby Covington.
Chimaev, eager to showcase his grappling pedigree before a passionate local crowd, promised an explosive display. "Emirates has good airlines, it is famous. Make him fly," quipped Chimaev before adding: "It's a good motivation for me to be one of the best wrestlers to show up here at home and show our wrestling skills and to make our kids happy."
Weidman, 42, embraced the late call-up and brushed off any concerns regarding his preparation or the physical challenge ahead. "I am ready to go. I feel good. You know, it's not ideal, obviously, getting the six days notice, but I've been wrestling since I'm a kid, and it feels like just riding a bike for me," the American said.
“It's been a while since I've had an opportunity to go against a guy who everybody looks at as like the boogeyman, as somebody who's like unbeatable. And I like to shock the world."
Elsewhere on the main card, Olympic gold medallist Kyle Snyder will square off against accomplished freestyle contender Shamil Erdogan for the RAF Light Heavyweight Championship, while Olympic silver medallist Kennedy Blades meets rising star Bella Mir in the Women's Middleweight Championship match.
Rounding out the marquee attractions, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will test his grappling mettle against Neiman Gracie from the famed Brazilian family which has deep connections with the UAE.
Tsarukyan even expressed his confidence by challenging Jordan Burroughs, who is on the card, after the latter wins on Saturday.
Gracie, who expressed his gratitude to the UAE leadership and excitement at competing in front of Abu Dhabi’s thriving jiu-jitsu community, vowed to leave everything on the mat.
"I didn't get on a 16-hour flight just to be here. I came here to win this match and I'm going to do everything in my power to win this match on Saturday," Gracie said. "Wrestling against Arman is a privilege for me and it's great because he is the face of the event. He's a guy that I truly respect."