Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will compete in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30. Steveson holds a 3-0 MMA record, while Romanov is a former UFC fighter with a 21-4 overall MMA record and 7-3 UFC record. The post describes Steveson as a future UFC fighter and Romanov as a former UFC competitor. The matchup pairs two fighters with MMA backgrounds in a wrestling-specific contest. No additional details about the event location or other bouts are provided.
Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov are set to square off in a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF09 on May 30, stepping away from the MMA cage to compete on the mat.
Steveson, described as a future UFC fighter, carries a 3-0 MMA record into the bout. The Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling brings elite amateur credentials to the matchup, though his verified MMA database entry contains limited statistical detail at this stage of his professional career.
Romanov, known by his nickname "King Kong," is the more seasoned combat sports veteran of the two. The 34-year-old Moldovan heavyweight holds a 19-3-0 professional MMA record and spent time competing in the UFC, where he built a notable run in the heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Romanov is a physically imposing presence, and his background has always carried a strong grappling foundation.
Why it matters
- Steveson has long been linked to a UFC future, and this high-profile wrestling appearance keeps him in the spotlight as he builds toward that transition.
- Romanov's UFC experience gives the matchup a layer of legitimacy, pitting a decorated amateur wrestler against a veteran professional fighter on the mat.
- Freestyle wrestling rules shift the contest away from either man's MMA comfort zone, making this a pure test of technical wrestling rather than overall fight craft.
