All articles tagged with #real american freestyle
Former UFC star Zabit Magomedsharipov has signed a four-match contract with Real American Freestyle (RAF). The 35-year-old will debut on the promotion's November 14 card in Abu Dhabi against an opponent to be announced later. This move offers fans a chance to see the former featherweight contender compete in grappling, as his return to striking MMA remains unlikely due to health issues and personal pursuits.
Real American Freestyle hosted an international wrestling meet in Moscow on Sept 5; with U.S. streaming blocked, results show wins across weight classes by Arujau, Raisov, Rahmani, Nolf, Nickal, Blades, Burroughs, Dake, Snyder, Magomedov and Valencia, plus two marquee main events: Abdulrashid Sadulaev vs Zac Braunagel and Khamzat Chimaev vs Tyron Woodley.
Khamzat Chimaev weighed 192.5 pounds and was lighter than Tyron Woodley at 193.6 pounds for their RAF Moscow main event, marking a lighter weigh‑in for Chimaev after his RAF debut. Both fighters won their previous RAF bouts, and Chimaev is hinting at a UFC return with talk of a Strickland rematch or a bout with Borralho, while set to co-headline RAF 13 in Miami on Sept. 18 against Gilbert Burns.
Arman Tsarukyan has been officially out of Dana White’s doghouse and is set to return as the UFC 331 co‑main event opponent of Mauricio Ruffy in Los Angeles. White confirmed at the pre‑fight press conference that Tsarukyan’s status has improved after a long stretch marked by injuries, weight‑cut drama and tense relations with UFC, with a win potentially moving him back into title contention by 2027 (though a Topuria/Pimblett double‑header on the same night isn’t planned).
Ben Askren returned to combat sports a year after his double lung transplant, losing 6-3 to Belal Muhammad at Real American Freestyle; ESPN noted he started strong but fatigued late, and he symbolically left his shoes on the mat after retiring from the bout. This was his first action since a 2021 Jake Paul boxing loss, and he finishes with a 19-2 MMA record (31-11 freestyle) and two-time Missouri national wrestling titles.
Colby Covington defeated Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11 to win the promotion's crossover championship and will defend the title against Belal Muhammad at RAF 12 in Cleveland on August 22, with Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs set to headline against Sean Brady.
Former champion Ben Askren returns to freestyle wrestling a year after a double lung transplant, competing in Real American Freestyle RAF11 in Milwaukee on his 42nd birthday—an emotional comeback and a potential final match.
Khamzat Chimaev will return from his first career loss by headlining RAF 10 against Dillon Danis in St. Louis on June 13, as part of the Real American Freestyle wrestling league; the card also features Arman Tsarukyan vs Tony Ferguson and Lance Palmer vs Aaron Pico, with Danis entering as a heavy underdog against Chimaev.
Henry Cejudo pulled out of RAF08 on fight day due to a personal injury, leaving Merab Dvalishvili waiting for his RAF debut. Cejudo said the injury is personal and won’t be disclosed, apologizing to Dvalishvili and thanking Real American Freestyle; RAF also announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev, while noting Cejudo’s UFC retirement after a loss to Payton Talbott.
Luke Rockhold’s tough stretch in combat sports continued with a tech-fall defeat to Colby Covington at Real American Freestyle’s RAF 5, marking his eighth loss in nine bouts across multiple disciplines since leaving UFC in 2022. Rockhold hadn’t won since his karate bout with Joe Schilling, while Covington praised RAF as a viable wrestling-focused platform; Rockhold replied “Happy to help the sport” on Instagram as Covington highlighted the league’s potential and his own career path.
Bo Nickal, a UFC middleweight prospect and former collegiate wrestler, has signed with Real American Freestyle to compete in wrestling matches, aiming to stay sharp and motivated between MMA fights, and has expressed interest in a wrestling challenge against Jon Jones.
Bo Nickal, a top wrestler and UFC fighter, has signed with the wrestling organization Real American Freestyle to compete while continuing his MMA career, which includes notable victories and a recent loss in UFC.