The Gable Steveson versus Alexander Romanov wrestling match will serve as the main event for RAF09 in Dallas on May 30. The card will also feature a bout between former UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington and former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. The event represents a significant crossover platform bringing together MMA fighters and Olympic wrestlers in freestyle wrestling competition. Details about the specific format and rules for these matchups have not been disclosed in this announcement.
RAF09 has locked in its main event for Dallas on May 30, pairing wrestler Gable Steveson against Alexander Romanov in a freestyle wrestling matchup, with Colby Covington and Chris Weidman also set to compete on the same card.
Romanov, 34, carries a 19-3-0 mixed martial arts record and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. Known in MMA circles as "King Kong," the Moldovan fighter brings legitimate wrestling credentials to this crossover format. His MMA statistics reflect a grappling-first approach throughout his career.
Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," enters at 38 years old with a 17-5-0 professional record. The MMA Masters product stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation in the UFC welterweight division as a relentless pressure fighter and high-volume wrestler, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. He is a former UFC welterweight title challenger.
Weidman, 42, is a former UFC middleweight champion competing out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. The 16-8-0 orthodox fighter stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach. He has averaged 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes during his MMA career, a number that speaks to the wrestling base he carries into this competition.
Why it matters
- RAF09 represents a crossover platform blending professional MMA fighters with Olympic-level wrestlers in freestyle competition
- Both bouts feature fighters with legitimate wrestling backgrounds, making the format a natural extension of their existing skill sets
- The specific rules and format for the matchups have not yet been announced, leaving key details about how each bout will be contested still unconfirmed
