Former and current 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 record in MMA, while Romanov has compiled a 21-4 overall record and went 7-3 during his UFC tenure. The matchup represents an unusual crossover between MMA and competitive wrestling, pitting two athletes with UFC connections against each other in a pure wrestling format. Both fighters have wrestling backgrounds, making this a natural fit despite their MMA experience. The bout will take place on a professional wrestling card rather than an MMA event.
Alexander Romanov and Gable Steveson are set to meet in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30, stepping outside the MMA cage for a pure grappling contest between two fighters with strong UFC ties.
Romanov, known as "King Kong," is a 34-year-old heavyweight from Moldova who carries a 19-3-0 professional MMA record and spent time competing in the UFC. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he brings a well-documented wrestling pedigree to the mat. His transition to a freestyle wrestling format is a natural extension of the grappling base that has underpinned his career.
Steveson enters with a 3-0 record in MMA and his own decorated wrestling background, making him a credible opponent in a discipline that plays directly to his strengths. The matchup pairs two athletes whose careers have intersected with the UFC, though the contest itself will unfold on a professional wrestling card rather than under MMA rules.
Why it matters
- The bout is a notable crossover event, pulling two UFC-connected heavyweights into a pure wrestling format
- Romanov's 19-3-0 MMA record gives the matchup genuine competitive credibility beyond a novelty spectacle
- Steveson's unbeaten 3-0 MMA start and wrestling pedigree make him a legitimate challenger in this format
- The RAF09 card signals growing interest in standalone professional wrestling competitions featuring fighters from combat sports
