Olympic Champion Gable Steveson and Chris Weidman Set for RAF09 Debuts in Dallas, May 30th

Real American Freestyle (RAF), the leading unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league, is set to make its highly anticipated debut in Texas with RAF09. The event will take place on May 30th at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. This landmark occasion features two significant debuts: Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson challenging Alexandr Romanov in the main event, and former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman clashing with Colby Covington in the co-main event.

The 7,000-seat College Park Center, home to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings and the University of Texas at Arlington, will host RAF’s first event in the Lone Star State. This move marks a strategic expansion for the league, bringing one of the combat sports' fastest-growing properties to one of the country's premier fight markets.

Chad Bronstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Real American Freestyle, expressed his excitement: "We are thrilled to bring RAF to Texas for the first time, to a market that truly lives and breathes major sports. The momentum behind our league continues to grow, and we are delivering unique matchups that fans simply cannot find elsewhere. Dallas is in for an unforgettable experience on May 30th."

The main event will feature Olympic champion Gable Steveson making his heavyweight debut in the RAF promotion against Alexandr Romanov. Romanov, widely known as "King Kong" from his illustrious MMA career, previously competed at RAF02 and has a strong background in both Senior World and European freestyle wrestling championships.

In the evening's co-main event, Colby Covington will return to face Chris Weidman, who makes his inaugural appearance in RAF. Covington aims to extend his undefeated streak in the promotion following his victory over Dillon Danis at RAF07. Weidman, best known for dethroning Anderson Silva and defending his UFC middleweight title three times, brings an impressive wrestling pedigree as a two-time NCAA Division I All-American and a Hofstra Hall of Famer. This matchup promises a return to wrestling roots for two elite competitors.

All RAF events are streamed exclusively on FOX Nation. Further announcements regarding additional matchups for RAF09 are expected soon. Tickets for the event will be available for purchase later this week, with fans able to sign up for pre-sale access at realamericanfreestyle.com.

In under a year, RAF has rapidly solidified its position as a major player in combat sports, cultivating one of the most engaged fanbases in the category. The league has redefined the fan experience of wrestling through live events, Fan Zones, youth clinics, and collectibles, creating new entry points for the next generation of athletes and enthusiasts to engage with the sport.

RAF’s combination of star power, high stakes, and historic matchups has fueled significant digital growth, generating over 200 billion earned media impressions and more than 250 million social views per event. Looking ahead, RAF’s next event, RAF08, is scheduled for April 18th at Philadelphia’s Liacouras Center, headlined by Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili, with Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber in the co-main event.