Real American Freestyle Comes to Milwaukee
The Real American Freestyle (RAF) 11 event recently took place at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This professional freestyle wrestling promotion, which launched in April 2025, aims to provide a platform for freestyle wrestlers to develop their careers and earn a living, similar to athletes in other combat sports like mixed martial arts. The event featured athletes from both college wrestling and MMA backgrounds.
RAF is distinct from traditional pro wrestling in that its matches are unscripted, though it shares some connections in management and production with older pro wrestling organizations. The promotion was co-founded by entrepreneur Chad Bronstein, who serves as CEO, and accomplished wrestling coach Izzy Martinez, the COO. Longtime pro wrestling figure Eric Bischoff is the chief media officer. The RAF roster includes 127 men and 23 women competitors.
The RAF 11 event in Milwaukee included ten men’s matches and two women’s matches. Tickets for the event were available through Ticketmaster, with prices starting at $66. The event was streamed on Fox Nation, a video-on-demand service.
Tsarukyan vs. Covington: A Crossover Title Bout
One of the main attractions at RAF 11 was the catchweight championship match for the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover title between Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington. Tsarukyan, a prominent MMA fighter, has become a significant figure in RAF during 2026, having competed in seven events for the promotion prior to this title bout. Despite not having a traditional wrestling background, Tsarukyan had maintained an undefeated record of 7-0 in RAF before this match.
Covington, known as “Chaos,” brought a strong wrestling pedigree to the event, having been a Division 1 All-American wrestler and a JUCO national champion. He leveraged his wrestling skills into a successful MMA career in the UFC, where he won an interim title and contended for the undisputed championship multiple times. Covington retired from MMA earlier in the year to focus on RAF, quickly accumulating three wins within the promotion, which led to his opportunity in this title match.
The match was structured into three periods. In the first period, Covington gained an early advantage, ending the period with a 3-0 lead. Tsarukyan struggled with Covington’s size. In the second period, Tsarukyan managed to score, bringing the score to 3-2, but Covington scored again before the period concluded, extending his lead to 5-2.
During the third period, Tsarukyan appeared fatigued and continued to shoot from a distance, which Covington effectively countered with sprawls and front headlocks. Covington was placed on the shot clock but did not score, making the score 5-3. Ultimately, Covington maintained his lead as the clock expired, securing a victory. The official results confirmed Colby Covington defeated Arman Tsarukyan 5-3, earning him the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover title.
Post-Match Reactions and Other Notable Fights
Following his victory, Colby Covington expressed respect for his opponent, stating, “Arman’s going to be lightweight champ, I’m sure of it. It was an honor to compete with Arman tonight.” He also mentioned Tsarukyan’s skills in tie-ups, fades, and leg attacks. Covington then issued a challenge to other fighters, including Chimaev, Belal, and Woodley, indicating his desire to defend his newly acquired title. Arman Tsarukyan did not provide an interview after the match.
Another significant match on the RAF 11 card was a cruiserweight bout featuring Ben Askren against Belal Muhammad. Askren, at 41 years old, was making a comeback after undergoing a double lung transplant in June of the previous year. Askren has a notable wrestling background, having won two WIAA championships, junior national titles, and two NCAA titles in unbeaten seasons, in addition to competing in the Olympics and becoming an MMA champion in the Bellator Fighting Championship.
The event also showcased local talent, including Keegan O’Toole, a student of Askren. O’Toole, who won four state titles at Arrowhead and had an undefeated 49-0 senior season, also secured two NCAA championships while at Missouri. His opponent was Chris Minto, who competes for Nebraska and was a silver medalist at the 2026 NCAA championships. The RAF 11 event marked the first time the promotion brought its brand of professional freestyle wrestling to Milwaukee.
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Source: mmafighting.com
