The Gable Steveson versus Alexander Romanov bout will headline the RAF09 event in Dallas on May 30. The card will also feature a matchup between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman. The RealAmericanFreestyle promotion is organizing the event, which brings together notable names from UFC and wrestling backgrounds. The double-header of high-profile bouts is expected to draw significant attention to the Dallas event.
RealAmericanFreestyle will stage its ninth event, RAF09, in Dallas on May 30, 2026, with a headline bout between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov topping a card that also features Colby Covington taking on Chris Weidman.
Alexander Romanov, known as "King Kong," brings a 19-3-0 record into the main event. The 34-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and carries an imposing finishing reputation. His verified striking accuracy sits at 75 percent, a figure that reflects how rarely he needs to throw before connecting cleanly.
Colby Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," is a 38-year-old American wrestling-based fighter out of MMA Masters who holds a 17-5-0 record. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, Covington is known for relentless pressure and volume, averaging 3.81 significant strikes per minute alongside 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
His opponent, Chris Weidman, is a 42-year-old Long Island native who trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team. "The All-American" carries a 16-8-0 professional record and stands six-foot-two with a massive 78-inch reach. Weidman averages 3.27 takedown attempts per 15 minutes and 3.11 significant strikes landed per minute, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat.
Why it matters
- The Steveson-Romanov main event places a decorated amateur wrestling star against a seasoned professional heavyweight finisher
- Covington versus Weidman is a welterweight-era collision between two prominent names from the UFC's recent history
- RAF09 draws from both professional MMA and elite wrestling backgrounds, positioning the Dallas card as one of the promotion's most high-profile shows to date
