Turkmen freestyle wrestler Alp Arslan Begendjow has arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to compete in an event organized by the “Real American Freestyle” (RAF) wrestling league. Photos and videos shared by the athlete on social media show that he is preparing for the competition.

Begendjow shared photographs taken in Abu Dhabi, images from an official photo session in which he wore the event’s special outfit in front of the national flag of Turkmenistan, as well as a video showing him signing the event poster.

The RAF Abu Dhabi event will take place on November 14 at the Etihad Arena sports complex on Yas Island. It will be the league’s first event held in the Middle East. The organizers have signed a five-year cooperation agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and the UAE Wrestling Federation. The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. Ashgabat time.

For 20-year-old Alp Arslan Begendjow, this will be his first appearance in the RAF league. His opponent will be American wrestler Kyle Dake. The 35-year-old athlete is the reigning league champion in the 86 kg weight category, a four-time world champion and a two-time Olympic bronze medallist. He has won all six of his bouts in the RAF league. His match against Begendjow will be another defence of his championship title.

Alp Arslan Begendjow is regarded as one of Turkmenistan’s promising young wrestlers in the country’s new Olympic era. In September 2024, he won gold in the 79 kg category at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, becoming the first world champion in this discipline in Turkmenistan’s history. In the same year, he also won gold at the Asian Junior Championships.

In 2026, the wrestler began competing in the 86 kg category and won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships held in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The main bout of the RAF event will see Khamzat Chimaev take on Chris Weidman for the championship belt in the light heavyweight division. Colby Covington was initially expected to compete in this bout, but he withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by Weidman.

The event’s programme also includes matches between Arman Tsarukyan and Neiman Gracie, Umar Nurmagomedov and Urijah Faber, as well as Kyle Snyder and Shamil Erdogan. In addition, well-known wrestlers such as Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Jordan Burroughs will also compete.