FOX Nation Pulls RAF Moscow Stream Over Sanctions Concerns

FOX Nation has backed out of streaming Real American Freestyle's Moscow event this weekend after questions emerged about whether the promotion violated U.S. sanctions by booking a venue tied to sanctioned Russian banks.

According to ESPN, RAF's Sept. 5 card at VTB Arena features Khamzat Chimaev facing Tyron Woodley in the main event, with Olympic gold medalists Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder also scheduled to compete. The problem is not the location itself but the venue operator, which is connected to BM-Bank and VTB Bank, a Russian financial institution majority-owned by the Russian government and sanctioned over the war in Ukraine.

Does The Booking Violate U.S. Law?

Those sanctions generally prohibit American citizens and companies from making payments or conducting business with the banks or companies they control without special permission from the Treasury Department. Two sanctions experts told ESPN that the event likely does not qualify for standard exemptions covering humanitarian work or journalism, and that RAF could have applied for a special government license but declined to say whether it requested or received one.

RAF CEO Chad Bronstein said the promotion is committed to operating in full compliance with all applicable laws and is working with independent sanctions attorneys, per ESPN. A FOX News spokesperson confirmed the streaming service would not carry the Moscow card after ESPN began asking questions, though RAF's official website still directed viewers to FOX Nation as of press time.

The U.S. government has not publicly ruled that RAF broke the law. The Moscow event remains scheduled for Saturday at VTB Arena.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Sanctions? FOX Nation refuses to stream Khamzat Chimaev-led RAF Moscow over potential U.S. violations