Xoilac News - Latest Sports News & Updates

Real American Freestyle lands in Florida on Jan. 10 for the promotion’s latest card

The full lineup for RAF 5 has been revealed with more than a few UFC superstars, Olympians and world champions decorating the card.

At the top, former All-American wrestler and one-time UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington returns to his roots when he faces ex-UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the main event. Covington is going to give up some size in this matchup but he comes from an elite wrestling pedigree while Rockhold is best known as a well-rounded mixed martial artist so this really is a clash of styles.

In the co-main event, three-time NCAA champion wrestler Bo Nickal returns to action to face Olympic silver medalist and seemingly ageless 48-year-old Yoel Romero, who is fresh of a 12-0 drubbing over Pat Downey at RAF 4. That match served as Romero’s first competitive wrestling in over 20 years but he didn’t look like he skipped a beat.

Top ranked UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is set to compete in Real American Freestyle for the first time when he faces former Ohio State All-American and multi-time PFL champion Lance Palmer in a featured bout on the card.

In an Olympic rematch, Kyle Dake seeks his revenge against Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau after they first met back in the 2020 games. On that night, Kadzimahamedau pulled of a stunning upset after he blanked Dake with an 11-0 tech fall victory before going onto win the silver medal.

Now they meet again at RAF 5 with Dake looking to avenge that prior loss.

Another interesting addition to the card in former two-time NCAA champion Steve Mocco, who currently serves as the head wrestling coach at American Top Team. Mocco is coming out of retirement and wrestling for the first time in over a decade when he takes on Olympian Mostafa Elders.