A bout between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will headline the RAF09 professional wrestling event in Dallas on May 30. The card will also feature a matchup between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman. Both Steveson and Romanov have MMA backgrounds, with Steveson being a former and future UFC fighter. Romanov has fought in the UFC with a 7-3 record in the promotion. This represents a cross-over event mixing MMA fighters in a wrestling format.
Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will meet in the main event of RAF09, a professional wrestling crossover event scheduled for May 30 in Dallas, with Colby Covington and Chris Weidman also set to compete on the card.
Steveson, a decorated amateur wrestling champion who has been linked to the UFC, steps into the RAF09 main event as one of the most anticipated combat sports crossover names in recent memory. The event format blends professional wrestling with the credibility of fighters who have competed at MMA's highest levels.
Romanov, known as "KING KONG," carries a 19-3-0 overall record and went 7-3 during his time in the UFC. The 34-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has built a reputation as a physically imposing heavyweight. His background in grappling makes him a natural fit for a wrestling format.
The undercard matchup between Covington and Weidman brings two recognizable UFC veterans to the Dallas event. Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," is 17-5-0 and has long been one of the welterweight division's most active wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes across his career. The 38-year-old trains out of MMA Masters and stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach.
Weidman, 42, is a former UFC middleweight champion who trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team. The six-foot-two New Yorker carries a 16-8-0 record and has averaged 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career, making him another natural crossover candidate for a wrestling-based event.
Why it matters
- RAF09 represents a growing trend of MMA fighters competing in professional wrestling formats
- Steveson's involvement keeps his name prominent ahead of an expected UFC return
- Romanov's UFC experience and heavyweight frame give the main event legitimate combat sports credibility
- The Covington-Weidman pairing puts two well-known grappling-first fighters on the same card
