Former and current UFC fighters will meet in a professional freestyle wrestling bout at RAF09 on May 30. Gable Steveson, who holds a 3-0 MMA record, will face Alexander Romanov, who has a 21-4 overall record and went 7-3 in the UFC. This represents an unusual crossover between MMA and professional wrestling competition. The matchup pits Steveson's Olympic wrestling pedigree against Romanov's extensive combat sports experience. Details about weight class or specific rules were not provided in the announcement.
Alexander Romanov and Gable Steveson are set to collide in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30, marking an unusual crossover event between MMA competition and the wrestling mat.
Romanov, nicknamed "King Kong," is a 34-year-old heavyweight from Moldova who stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. He carries a verified record of 19-3-0 and built his reputation inside the UFC over a ten-fight stretch, going 7-3 with the promotion before his departure. His background is rooted in grappling and combat sports, making him a credible participant in a freestyle wrestling context.
Steveson enters with a 3-0 MMA record and brings one of the most decorated amateur wrestling resumes in recent memory, highlighted by Olympic-level credentials. The matchup places his elite freestyle pedigree directly against the combat sports experience Romanov has accumulated across a lengthy professional career.
Why it matters
- The bout represents a rare crossover event pulling an active or former UFC heavyweight into a professional wrestling competition format
- Steveson's Olympic wrestling background versus Romanov's MMA grappling background creates a genuine stylistic contrast on the mat
- The result could influence how both fighters are perceived ahead of potential future MMA bookings
No weight class designation or specific ruleset was included in the official announcement for the May 30 event.
