The upstart Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion has its fifth show this weekend. And they are again bringing out some recognizable UFC names to draw attention to themselves and the sport of freestyle wrestling. This time around they’ve got the divisive Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold to don singlets and rewind to their college and high school days.
Covington is the more decorated wrestler, competing for the University of Iowa and then Oregon State University (where he became a two-time Pac-10 conference champion). Rockhold wrestled in high school before shifting focus to BJJ and then MMA. The former UFC Middleweight champion will have a considerable size advantage over the former interim UFC Welterweight champion, though. This match is set for 190 lbs.
Since leaving UFC the 41 year-old Rockhold has appeared in Polaris and the Craig Jones Invitational and got his teeth obliterated by Mike Perry in BKFC (see it here). Last year he smoked Joe Schilling in Karate Combat (see it here) and was KO’d by Darren Till in Misfits Boxing (see it here).
The co-main event is for the RAF 205 lbs title. It pits active UFC fighter Bo Nickal against Yoel Romero. Romero, a former World Champion and Olympic silver medallist, has recently been knocking guys out in BKFC and Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing. Nickal, a three time NCAA Division 1 champ, is coming off a thunderous headkick KO over Rodolfo Vieira (see it here).
EDIT: Bo Nickal vs. Yoel Romero has been cancelled (full details here)
Olympic bronze medallist Kyle Dake is also on the card. He’ll be hoping to avenge his silver medal game loss to Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau. These two will be competing for the RAF 190 lbs title.
Further down the card is Arman Tsarukyan, who is taking time away from the UFC dog house to take on Bellator vet Lance Palmer.
Real American Freestyle (RAF) takes place on Saturday Jan. 10, 2026 at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
The event is due to start at 8 p.m. ET. and air exclusively on FOXNation.
RAF 5 Highlights and Reactions
