RAF 05 Proved Real American Freestyle Is More Than a Gimmick, It’s a Wrestling Powerhouse
- Mark Myword
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
RAF 05 Proved Real American Freestyle Is More Than a Gimmick, It’s a Wrestling Powerhouse
On January 10, 2026, Real American Freestyle (RAF) returned with an explosion of elite grappling and athletic crossover in Sunrise, Florida. The Amerant Bank Arena was packed, the Fox Nation broadcast was live, and the wrestling mats were the stage for a stacked slate of competitive freestyle bouts that blurred the lines between folkstyle, elite wrestling, and combat sports star power.
RAF 05 answered critics, delivered highlights, and established that freestyle wrestling in a professional entertainment format can bring both legitimacy and spectacle. Here’s how the night went down and why this league might be one of combat sports’ most interesting experiments yet.
Main Event: Colby Covington Dominates Luke Rockhold
The headliner featured Colby Covington, the former UFC interim welterweight title challenger and NCAA Division I All-American, against UFC veteran Luke Rockhold. In pure freestyle wrestling, Covington’s pedigree showed early and often.
He secured takedowns, controlled position, and didn’t cede an inch to Rockhold, earning a 12–0 technical fall victory in dominant fashion.
Following his decisive win and his first competitive outing after a long hiatus. Covington even used his post match spotlight to call out legendary names, hinting that his competitive fire is far from spent.
Cruiserweight Title: Kyle Dake Retains in Thrilling Contest
In a rematch viewers had been waiting for, Kyle Dake successfully defended his cruiserweight title against Mahamedkhabib “Kadik” Kadzimahamedau. After a tactical opening period, Dake found his rhythm and began to pull away, ultimately holding on for a 10–7 victory.
Their competitive back-and-forth was one of the strongest displays of seasoned wrestling on the card, and fans are already calling for a trilogy.
Arman Tsarukyan Impresses in RAF Debut
Lightweight standout Arman Tsarukyan made his freestyle wrestling debut with authority, putting away seasoned competitor Lance Palmer by technical fall (10–0).
Tsarukyan’s performance showed a fluid transition from MMA grappling to pure wrestling, reminding fans that high-level athletes can excel across disciplines when skill and preparation align.
Bantamweight & Other Standouts
The rest of the card was packed with decisive performances and emerging stars:
Austin DeSanto took home the RAF Bantamweight title with an 11–1 technical fall over Nathan Tomasello.
Jordan Oliver edged Real Woods 3–3 on criteria to secure the featherweight championship after Woods missed weight.
Stephen Buchanan made a statement with a 10–0 tech fall victory over Yoel Romero, positioning himself as a potential future contender.
Bo Bassett continued his momentum with a 14–4 win over Cayden Henschell.
Zahid Valencia rebounded with a 4–0 victory over Nate Jackson.
Mostafa Elders and Pat Lugo also picked up solid decisions in competitive matchups.
Georgio Poullas dominated his openweight bout with an 11–1 tech fall.
What RAF 05 Means for 2026
RAF 05: Covington vs. Rockhold wasn’t a one off spectacle, it was a statement.
Real American Freestyle is building something rare in combat sports: a competitive, recognizable freestyle wrestling product that feels like an event. With stars crossing over from MMA and wrestling stalwarts alike, RAF 05 showed there’s a real appetite for unscripted elite grappling delivered in a sports-entertainment format.
And it’s just getting started.
RAF has more events on the horizon, including RAF 06: Cejudo vs. Faber on February 28, 2026, poised to build on the momentum from Sunrise.
If 2026 is the year fans get serious, competitive crossover entertainment outside the cage, RAF just showed that wrestling can run with the big dogs and maybe even pull ahead.
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