RAF Moscow Switches Venue Two Days Before Chimaev Card

Real American Freestyle moved its Moscow wrestling card from VTB Arena to Arena Mytishchi two days before Saturday's event, per an MMA Mania report. The promotion confirmed the venue switch Thursday but offered no explanation for the abrupt change.

The relocation comes three weeks after ESPN reported that staging the event at VTB Arena would likely violate U.S. sanctions against Russia. According to that report, VTB Arena is operated by a subsidiary of BM-Bank, which is owned by VTB Bank. Both banks are subject to sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prohibiting American citizens and businesses from transacting with them without special Treasury Department permission. Two sanctions experts told ESPN that RAF's agreement with the venue likely conflicted with those restrictions.

What the Move Means for Chimaev-Woodley Broadcast

FOX Nation told ESPN it would not stream the original card. The network has not indicated whether the venue change alters that decision. RAF declined to say whether it had sought or received a government license to conduct business with the sanctioned entities.

RAF CEO Chad Bronstein made no mention of the sanctions controversy in Thursday's announcement. "Moscow has been one of the events we've been most excited about since we started building RAF," Bronstein said. "Look at the athletes on this card: Olympic and world champions alongside some of the biggest names in wrestling and combat sports. All coming together on one mat."

The card remains headlined by former UFC champions Khamzat Chimaev and Tyron Woodley. Russian wrestling legend Abdulrashid Sadulaev meets Zac Braunagel in the co-main event, with Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake, Jordan Burroughs, and Bo Nickal also scheduled to compete.

Existing ticket holders will receive instructions from VTB Arena on transferring their tickets to Arena Mytishchi. The event goes ahead Saturday as planned.

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• MMA Mania — Sanctions avoided! RAF Moscow abruptly changes venue two days before Khamzat Chimaev vs. Tyron Woodley