Idman.biz
Two-time Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev may compete in the RAF ("Real American Freestyle") tournament, a professional freestyle wrestling league organized in the USA. According to Sadulaev, the option of holding the competition in Azerbaijan is also being considered.
Idman.Biz reports that Sadulaev, nicknamed the "Russian Tank" by foreign journalists due to his dominant wrestling style, is still awaiting the processing of his US visa application.
"There has been no rejection yet. There is still time. If they approve it by May 25-26, I want to go to the USA," the wrestler said in a statement to Red Corner MMA.
Sadulaev noted that his debut in the league is scheduled for the RAF tournament in Dallas on May 30.
"This tournament was supposed to be held on May 15. But due to the tense situation in the Middle East, it was moved to Texas. I also plan to perform there. If they give me a visa, I will leave immediately," he emphasized.
The Russian athlete did not rule out that events could develop differently.
"They are considering holding the tournament in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, or Armenia in June this year. I am ready to start," Sadulaev added.
The Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation has already reacted to Abdulrashid Sadulaev's words.
In a statement to Idman.Biz, the organization noted that there are no plans to hold such a tournament in our country.
"Perhaps someone has the idea to hold this tournament in Azerbaijan. But we don't have such plans yet," said Sarkhan Musali, head of the press service of the national federation.
It should be noted that RAF ("Real American Freestyle") is a new US professional freestyle wrestling league created in 2025. Among the creators of the project are wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, former WCW head Eric Bischoff, businessman Chad Bronstein, and famous coach Izzy Martinez.
The project is presented as the first professional freestyle wrestling league in a show format designed for a wide audience. RAF tournaments are held in a large event format, accompanied by media support, championship belts, and broadcasts on the FOX Nation platform. Olympic champions, NCAA stars, and well-known MMA representatives perform in the league.
It is worth remembering that Sadulaev signed a contract with RAF in January of this year.
In addition, it was previously announced that Haji Aliyev, Azerbaijan's titled wrestler, multiple winner of the Olympic Games, world and European championships, will also compete in the league's tournaments. His fight is scheduled for the RAF 10 tournament in St. Louis in June. It is expected that Aliyev's opponent will be Sebastian Rivera from Puerto Rico.
