Olympic champion Gable Steveson and Chris Weidman are set to debut at RAF09 in Dallas on May 30th. Real American Freestyle (RAF), the premier unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league, announced that its RAF09 tournament will be held on May 30, 2026, at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. This event marks RAF’s first venture into Texas, bringing one of the fastest-growing combat sports properties to a leading fight market in the country. The 7,000-seat arena, home to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings and the University of Texas at Arlington, will host this significant tournament.
Chad Bronstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Real American Freestyle, expressed his excitement about bringing the event to Texas. “We are thrilled to bring RAF to Texas for the first time, to a market that truly lives and breathes big-time sports. The momentum behind this league continues to grow, and we are delivering matchups you simply can’t get anywhere else. Dallas will undoubtedly feel that on May 30,” he stated.
The main event of the tournament will feature Olympic heavyweight champion Gable Steveson making his RAF debut against Alexandr Romanov. Romanov, known as “King Kong” from his prolific MMA career, previously competed at RAF02 and has participated in Senior World and European freestyle wrestling championships.
The co-main event will showcase Colby Covington facing Chris Weidman, who is also making his league debut. Covington returns after his victory over Dillon Danis at RAF07, aiming to maintain his undefeated record in the promotion. Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion renowned for dethroning Anderson Silva and defending his title three times, also boasts an impressive wrestling background as a two-time NCAA Division I All-American and a Hofstra Hall of Famer. This matchup brings two elite competitors back to their wrestling roots.
The RAF league has rapidly established itself as a significant force in combat sports, cultivating the most engaged fanbase in under a year. RAF has expanded how fans interact with wrestling, offering not only live events but also fan zones, youth clinics, and collectibles, thereby creating new entry points for the next generation of athletes and enthusiasts. The league’s blend of star power, high stakes, and historic matchups has fueled rapid digital growth, generating over 200 billion media impressions and more than 250 million social views per event.