Gable Steveson will face Alexander Romanov in the main event of Real American Freestyle 09 in Dallas on May 30. This marks a significant booking for the promotion featuring the former Olympic gold medalist wrestler Steveson. The card will also include a matchup between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman. RAF 09 appears to be building a notable lineup with these high-profile names from the MMA community.
Real American Freestyle 09 has its main event set, with Gable Steveson squaring off against Alexander Romanov on May 30 in Dallas. The card also features a matchup between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman, giving the promotion one of its more high-profile lineups to date.
Steveson, the former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, steps into the main event as one of combat sports' most recognizable names making the transition to professional competition. His opponent, Alexander Romanov — known as "King Kong" — carries a 19-3 record and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. The 34-year-old competes out of Moldova and brings a striking accuracy of 75 percent, a remarkable figure that reflects his precision inside the cage.
The co-main event pits two prominent American fighters against one another. Colby Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," holds a 17-5 record and fights out of MMA Masters. The 38-year-old is five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and averages 3.81 significant strikes per minute, complemented by a strong wrestling-based approach that produces 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes. His opponent, Chris Weidman, carries a 16-8 record and competes under the Serra-Longo Fight Team banner. At 42, the six-foot-two "All-American" brings a well-rounded game, averaging 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes along with 3.11 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Steveson vs. Romanov gives RAF 09 a genuine marquee main event built around one of wrestling's biggest names
- Romanov's 19-3 record makes him a credible and dangerous opponent for the Olympic champion
- Covington vs. Weidman adds MMA pedigree to the card, pairing two experienced veterans with complementary grappling-heavy styles
- The Dallas card signals RAF's ambition to attract established combat sports names to its roster
