Former and current UFC fighters will compete at a professional freestyle wrestling tournament. Gable Steveson, who holds a 3-0 MMA record, will face Alexander Romanov, who has a 21-4 overall MMA record and went 7-3 in the UFC. The match is scheduled for May 30 at RAF09. This represents an unusual crossover event between MMA fighters competing in a pure wrestling format. Both athletes have wrestling backgrounds, with Steveson being an Olympic gold medalist and NCAA champion. Details about the specific rules or weight class were not provided in the announcement.
Alexander Romanov and Gable Steveson are set to clash in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30, stepping outside the MMA cage to compete on the mat in a pure grappling format.
Romanov, known as "King Kong," is a 34-year-old heavyweight from Moldova who carries a 19-3-0 professional MMA record. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he spent time competing in the UFC and brings legitimate wrestling credentials to this crossover bout. His striking accuracy sits at a remarkable 75 percent, though his game has long been built around his physical dominance and grappling base.
Steveson enters with a 3-0 MMA record and an accomplished amateur wrestling pedigree that includes an Olympic gold medal and an NCAA championship title. Still early in his professional combat sports career, the matchup against a veteran like Romanov represents a significant step up in competition, even if the format here is wrestling rather than MMA.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are transitioning into a pure wrestling format, making this a rare crossover event that tests grappling credentials outside the cage
- Romanov's experience as a seasoned professional provides a stern measuring stick for the still-developing Steveson
- The bout has no confirmed weight class or ruleset, leaving key competitive details still to be clarified ahead of May 30
- RAF09 continues a growing trend of combat sports athletes competing across disciplines and formats
No specific weight class or rules framework was announced alongside the matchup, so the exact competitive structure remains unclear heading into the event.
