Osama Elsaidy to represent Egypt at RAF’s Abu Dhabi debut
For Egyptian fighter Osama Elsaidy, stepping onto the mat in Abu Dhabi will be about more than his next opponent. It is an opportunity to represent his country’s wrestling tradition in front of a new international audience.
Elsaidy will face Bahrain’s Murtaza Talha in a light heavyweight contest at Etihad Arena on November 14, when Real American Freestyle stages its first event in the Middle East.
He is one of four Arab athletes making their RAF debuts on Yas Island, on a card headlined by Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington.
Carrying Egypt’s wrestling heritage forward
Elsaidy credits Egypt’s long wrestling history with shaping his approach to competition. Discipline, patience and respect for the fundamentals remain central to the way he prepares and performs.
For him, that heritage carries a responsibility: to honour the sport’s foundations while bringing his own approach to every contest.
The Abu Dhabi appearance offers a chance to put those principles into practice against Talha. Elsaidy sees sharing a card with established international names as both recognition and motivation — an opportunity to learn from the experience while proving that he deserves his place among them.
Four Arab athletes join the card
Alongside Elsaidy and Talha, Bahrain’s Hamza Kooheji will meet Jordan’s Ali AlQaisi in a lightweight contest under freestyle wrestling rules.
AlQaisi became the first Jordanian to compete in the UFC in 2020. Kooheji, meanwhile, believes their encounter will draw particular interest from regional fans because of both athletes’ grappling backgrounds.
Together, the two matchups give competitors from Egypt, Bahrain and Jordan a prominent regional presence at RAF’s Middle East launch.
International wrestling comes to Yas Island
RAF brings Olympic champions, world medallists, collegiate wrestlers and MMA crossover athletes into a professional freestyle wrestling format.
The Abu Dhabi main event will see Chimaev challenge Covington for the Cruiserweight Crossover Championship, while Arman Tsarukyan faces Neiman Gracie in a catchweight crossover contest.
The November event launches a five-year partnership between Real American Freestyle, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the UAE Wrestling Federation, establishing a longer-term platform for the sport in the capital.
