A heavyweight bout between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will headline the Real American Freestyle 09 event in Dallas on May 30th. The card will also feature a matchup between former UFC stars Colby Covington and Chris Weidman. This marks a significant booking for the Real American Freestyle promotion, bringing together notable names from wrestling and MMA backgrounds. The event represents Steveson's continued pursuit of an MMA career after his decorated wrestling background. Covington versus Weidman adds another compelling matchup between experienced UFC veterans to the Dallas card.
Real American Freestyle 09 has locked in a heavyweight main event, with Gable Steveson set to face Alexander Romanov at the Dallas show on May 30th. The card will also feature a clash between former UFC names Colby Covington and Chris Weidman, giving the promotion one of its most recognizable lineups to date.
Steveson enters the fight as a decorated amateur wrestler transitioning into professional MMA competition, using RAF as his proving ground in the sport. His opponent, Alexander Romanov, carries a professional record of 19-3-0 and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. The 34-year-old has built his career on a striking accuracy of 75 percent, an unusually high mark that speaks to his precision inside the cage.
Colby Covington, 38, brings a 17-5-0 record and considerable UFC pedigree to the Dallas card. Known as "Chaos," the five-foot-eleven welterweight out of MMA Masters averages 3.81 significant strikes per minute and 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most relentless pressure fighters in the sport's recent history.
Standing across from him will be Chris Weidman, the 42-year-old "All-American" from the Serra-Longo Fight Team. Weidman holds a 16-8-0 record and carries a six-foot-two frame with a 78-inch reach. He averages 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes himself, setting up a contest between two wrestlers who have each built reputations on controlling opponents and grinding out victories.
Why it matters
- Steveson vs. Romanov gives RAF its highest-profile heavyweight matchup and tests Steveson's development against a seasoned professional
- Covington and Weidman are both former top-ranked UFC competitors, raising the card's credibility significantly
- Two wrestler-versus-wrestler style matchups on the same card creates a distinctive identity for the RAF 09 event in Dallas
