Chimaev vs Woodley RAF Moscow venue changed to Arena Mytishchi

Khamzat Chimaev’s return to the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion is proceeding as planned, though the event has been relocated just two days before it is set to take place. The former UFC middleweight champion is scheduled to headline RAF Moscow on Saturday, September 5, against former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. The venue for the event has been changed from the VTB Arena to Arena Mytishchi in Moscow. The promotion announced the venue change on September 4, stating that existing ticket holders would receive information directly from the original venue with instructions on how to update their tickets. The move comes amid reports that holding the event at the VTB Arena could potentially violate United States sanctions against Russia, which might impact the promotion’s ability to broadcast the card on FOX Nation. It was not clarified whether the relocation was made specifically for this reason. Chimaev and Woodley brought intensity to their first faceoff ahead of the main event. Woodley enters the match with momentum after defeating Joaquin Buckley last month. The event also features other notable athletes, including Bo Nickal and Jordan Burroughs.