Khamzat Chimaev defeated Chris Weidman via a 10-0 technical fall in the second round to capture the Light Heavyweight Crossover Championship at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday at Etihad Arena.
- Chimaev cements his dominant crossover wrestling stock, maintaining an unblemished mat record across multiple promotional appearances.
- Weidman demonstrates competitive resilience on short notice before dropping the bout, maintaining high brand value following his January 2025 pro MMA retirement.
- Dvalishvili successfully rebounds from his loss to Henry Cejudo at RAF 12 with a first-round pin over Marlon Moraes, boosting his momentum.
Stepping in on short notice for the injured Colby Covington, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman made his second Real American Freestyle appearance against Khamzat Chimaev, according to MMA Fighting.
Chimaev secured an early escape point and capitalized with collar tie dominance to build a 5-0 lead by the end of the opening frame. In the second round, Chimaev answered a Weidman takedown attempt with a swift reversal and throw, sealing the 10-0 technical fall victory.
The event, hosted at Etihad Arena, featured unscripted freestyle wrestling rules consisting of three two-minute periods with 30-second breaks and no overtime, as detailed by The National. In the co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Neiman Gracie by a 10-0 technical fall, Yahoo Sports reported.
Merab Dvalishvili and teammate Saba Lazishvili both secured victories on the card. Dvalishvili defeated Marlon Moraes via a first-round pin after establishing a 4-2 lead, bouncing back from his loss to Henry Cejudo at RAF 12. Speaking to Chael Sonnen after his victory, Dvalishvili addressed the altercation by urging authorities to release those involved from custody.
“Hey, if you can, I would say Abu Dhabi government or whoever can do it, please release those guys. Please, let them out. Because we are just fighters and this thing can happen, but I want them out, please.”
Lazishvili earned a 12-5 points victory over Urijah Faber. Backstage following the win, Lazishvili shared his reaction with the RAF digital team.
“I feel wonderful, man. God is great. Life is beautiful.”
Lazishvili told the RAF digital team.
| Weight Class / Division | Winner | Loser | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight Crossover | Khamzat Chimaev | Chris Weidman | Tech Fall (10-0) |
| Catchweight | Arman Tsarukyan | Neiman Gracie | Tech Fall (10-0) |
| Catchweight | Merab Dvalishvili | Marlon Moraes | Pin (Round 1) |
| Cruiserweight Championship | Kyle Dake | Alp Arslan Begenjov | Tech Fall (11-0) |
| Light Heavyweight Championship | Kyle Snyder | Shamil Erdogan | Tech Fall (11-0) |
Additional results across the 13-match card included Zabit Magomedsharipov defeating Giga Chikadze via a second-round pin, Abdulrashid Sadulaev securing an 8-5 points win over Dauren Kurugliev for the RAF Light Heavyweight Championship, and Jordan Burroughs posting an 11-0 technical fall against Azamat Nurykau, according to Sportaran. Real American Freestyle continues its schedule with the next event slated for the end of the month in Chicago, MMA Fighting reported.
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