Former and future UFC fighters Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will compete against each other in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30. Steveson holds a 3-0 MMA record, while Romanov has competed extensively with a 21-4 overall record including a 7-3 stint in the UFC. The matchup represents an interesting crossover between MMA and wrestling, with both athletes returning to pure grappling competition. Romanov is described as a former UFC fighter, suggesting he has left the promotion, while Steveson is labeled as a future UFC fighter, indicating plans to join the organization. The bout gives fans a chance to see these heavyweights compete in the wrestling format that forms the base of their fighting styles.
Alexander Romanov and Gable Steveson are set to clash in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30, stepping away from MMA competition to test their grappling credentials against one another.
Romanov, nicknamed "King Kong," carries a 19-3-0 professional MMA record and brings extensive experience to the mat. The 34-year-old Moldovan stands six-foot-two (188 cm) with a 75-inch reach and logged a lengthy stint inside the UFC's heavyweight division. He is described in connection with this event as a former UFC fighter, suggesting he has departed the promotion ahead of this crossover appearance.
Steveson enters with a 3-0 MMA record and is identified as a future UFC fighter, meaning a move to the promotion is expected down the line. The heavyweight prospect returns here to the pure wrestling format that built his reputation before his transition to mixed martial arts.
Why it matters
- Both men compete at heavyweight, making this a rare collision of elite-level grapplers from within the MMA world
- Steveson's anticipated UFC arrival adds extra visibility to the bout, with his performance here likely to shape early expectations
- Romanov's MMA background provides a real competitive test rather than a showcase, giving the match genuine stakes on the mat
- The crossover format highlights the growing appetite for submission grappling and freestyle wrestling events featuring recognizable MMA names
