{
  "id": 12851853,
  "title": "UFC star Arman Tsarukyan added to RAF Abu Dhabi card",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ufc-star-arman-tsarukyan-added-to-raf-abu-dhabi-card",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T10:56:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/combat-sports/2026/10/08/ufc-star-arman-tsarukyan-added-to-raf-abu-dhabi-card/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan, hailing from Armenia, has been added to the inaugural Real American Freestyle (RAF) Abu Dhabi tournament card. The event, set for next month, will see Tsarukyan, currently the top-ranked contender in the UFC's lightweight division with an 11-2 record, take on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Neiman Gracie. Tsarukyan enters the bout with a 7-1 record in RAF, and a 5-0 technical fall record. He will face Gracie, a three-time World BJJ bronze medallist, in a freestyle wrestling contest. Other notable additions to the card include American cruiserweight champion Kyle Dake, who will defend his title against Turkmenistan's Alp Arslan Begenjov, and American middleweight champion Kennedy Blades, defending her title against Bella Mir. Russia's Zabit Magomedsharipov and Georgia's Giga Chikadze will also clash in a welterweight bout, while Olympic medalists Jordan Burroughs and Azamat Nurykau will meet at Middleweight. The event is headlined by UAE middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, who will face Colby Covington for the Cruiserweight Crossover Championship.",
  "summary": "UFC star Arman Tsarukyan of Armenia will face Neiman Gracie in a catchweight crossover matchup at the inaugural Real American Freestyle (RAF) Abu Dhabi tournament next month. Tsarukyan, the No 1-ranked contender in the UFC's lightweight division boasting an 11-2 record in the world's lead MMA organisation, heads to the UAE capital with a 7-1 RAF record, including five wins by technical fall. He…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Arman Tsarukyan, Bella Mir latest additions for RAF Abu Dhabi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/arman-tsarukyan-bella-mir-latest-additions-for-raf-abu-dhabi",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:06:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "UFC star Arman Tsarukyan added to RAF Abu Dhabi card",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ufc-star-arman-tsarukyan-added-to-raf-abu-dhabi-card-12855484",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:56:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}