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Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson defeated Alexandr Romanov at RAF 09, an event featuring several former UFC stars in Arlington, Texas.
Real American Freestyle (RAF) held its ninth event on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas [1]. The card, which streamed live on Fox Nation, featured a heavy presence of current and former UFC athletes competing in wrestling matches [1].
Key takeaways
The main event saw the debut of Gable Steveson, who defeated former PFL tournament finalist Alexandr Romanov by technical fall in the second round [2]. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division I heavyweight champion, is scheduled to make his official UFC octagon debut on July 11 at UFC 329 [2].
In the co-main event, Colby Covington—who recently retired from UFC competition—faced former UFC Middleweight champion Chris Weidman [1]. The match ended in a 5-4 victory for Covington [2]. Elsewhere on the card, former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili defeated Frankie Edgar by technical fall in the third round [3]. Other notable results included Kyle Snyder defeating Givi Matcharashvili via technical fall and Arman Tsarukyan securing a 16-5 technical fall win over Mugzy [2].
RAF 09 highlights a growing trend of high-profile combat sports athletes participating in wrestling-specific events during gaps in their professional fighting careers [3]. For athletes like Steveson, these matches serve as preparation for upcoming transitions into the UFC [2]. The event also provided a platform for retired or veteran fighters, such as Covington and Edgar, to remain active in a competitive environment outside of traditional mixed martial arts [1]. As the promotion continues to utilize Fox Nation for its broadcasts, it remains a notable side venue for established combat sports names to test their skills on the mat [3].
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 5 outlets · Jun 3, 2026 · How we report
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