Real American Freestyle announced the United States Air Force as an official partner on August 11. Four days later, ESPN reported that the promotion’s September 5 card in Moscow likely violates U.S. sanctions, and members of Congress from both parties are urging RAF to call the event off.
The show is headlined by former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev against former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, a booking confirmed at the end of July. It is set for VTB Arena, a venue owned through a subsidiary of VTB Bank, which is majority owned by the Russian government and listed under U.S. sanctions.
Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, told ESPN he wants the card moved out of the country. “I urge that this event not be held in Russia,” Bacon said, describing Russia under Vladimir Putin as a state committing war crimes daily. He made the same point publicly on X.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the Ohio Democrat who co-founded the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said hosting the show and parading American athletes through Moscow is “morally repugnant,” and argued the trip is a reason to tighten sanctions on the Putin government. Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ESPN that Russia’s war on Ukraine should not be normalized by U.S.-based sports organizations.
The Air Force Partnership Landed Four Days Earlier
RAF’s agreement with the Air Force begins at RAF 12, the promotion’s one-year anniversary event on August 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. RAF has said the partnership will bring Air Force Honor Guard appearances and activations with current and former service members across event weekends.
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed the arrangement to ESPN, describing it as support for national recruiting and public outreach. The branch has not addressed the Moscow card specifically.
Fox Nation Has Already Stepped Back
Fox Nation, which signed a long-term exclusive deal in January to stream every RAF event, told ESPN it will not carry the Moscow show. That is the first carve-out in a broadcast relationship running since RAF’s debut in August 2025.
RAF CEO Chad Bronstein declined to answer ESPN’s questions on legality directly, saying the promotion is “working with independent U.S. sanctions counsel” to stay compliant. Two sanctions policy experts told the outlet they doubt the Treasury Department would grant an exemption.
Chimaev has not commented on the report. He lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May and has since formally requested a rematch. Anatoly Malykhin, Bo Nickal and Olympic gold medalists Kyle Snyder and Jordan Burroughs are also booked for Moscow.
