The matchup between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will headline the RAF09 wrestling event in Dallas on May 30. The card will also feature a bout between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman. This represents a significant professional wrestling event featuring multiple high-profile UFC fighters. The announcement was made by Real American Freestyle, the organization promoting the event.
Real American Freestyle will present RAF09 in Dallas on May 30, with a main event pitting Gable Steveson against Alexander Romanov atop a card that also includes a clash between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman.
Alexander Romanov, nicknamed "King Kong," carries a 19-3-0 record into the event. The 34-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brings a striking accuracy of 75 percent to the mat. Romanov competes out of Moldova and has built his reputation as a dominant grappler on the MMA circuit.
Colby Covington, known as "Chaos," holds a 17-5-0 record and trains out of MMA Masters. The 38-year-old American stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach. Covington is one of the busier fighters in combat sports, averaging 3.81 significant strikes per minute and 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition.
His opponent, Chris Weidman, brings a 16-8-0 record to Dallas. The 42-year-old from the United States trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach. "The All-American" averages 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a clip of 3.11 per minute, showcasing the well-rounded game that defined his UFC career.
Why it matters
- Steveson vs. Romanov gives the event a high-profile main event mixing Olympic wrestling pedigree with proven MMA grappling credentials.
- Covington and Weidman are both established UFC veterans, raising the competitive stakes of the undercard considerably.
- RAF09 continues Real American Freestyle's push to build a roster of recognizable combat sports names in the professional wrestling format.
