Real American Freestyle (RAF) has officially shifted the landscape of modern combat sports. What started as an ambitious vision to bring world-class freestyle wrestling to a mainstream broadcast stage has rapidly evolved into one of the most compelling properties in combat athletics. If there were any remaining doubts about whether crossover freestyle wrestling could capture global fan interest, the latest stretch of events—culminating in the explosive RAF 11 Results—has permanently put them to rest.
At Fight Artist, we have been closely tracking this promotion’s meteoric rise, and from our perspective, three marquee moments stole the show: Colby Covington outworking Arman Tsarukyan in a tense main event, Kyle Snyder’s statement triumph over rival Abdulrashid Sadulaev, and Merab Dvalishvili outmaneuvering former two-division kingpin Henry Cejudo. RAF Wrestling is doing virtually everything right at this point in time, setting a blueprint that rival combat promotions should be studying closely.
The Marquee Highlights: Fight Artist’s Key Takeaways
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| FIGHT ARTIST: RAF 11 TRIPLE TOP SHOWCASE |
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| 1. COVINGTON vs. TSARUKYAN : Relentless pace delivers inaugural gold|
| 2. SNYDER vs. SADULAEV : Heavyweight supremacy in a classic rivalry|
| 3. DVALISHVILI vs. CEJUDO : Unlimited engine outpaces Olympic pedigree|
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1. Colby Covington Defeats Arman Tsarukyan for Crossover Gold
The headline bout at RAF 11 saw UFC star Colby Covington clash with lightweight powerhouse Arman Tsarukyan for the inaugural RAF Crossover Cruiserweight Championship. Having both built impressive resumes inside the RAF circle on earlier cards, this high-stakes showdown lived up to every bit of pre-fight hype.
Covington utilized his trademark relentless pace and methodical positional control from the opening whistle. After taking an early lead on the shot clock, Covington scored a crucial late takedown in the first period to establish a 3–0 cushion. Though Tsarukyan mounted a furious comeback in the third frame—cutting the deficit down to 3–2 and continuing to press with dangerous attacks—Covington’s defense proved impenetrable under pressure. Covington secured another decisive late attack, holding off Tsarukyan’s final push for a 5–3 decision victory to capture the championship belt.
2. Kyle Snyder Beats Rival Abdulrashid Sadulaev
The historic rivalry between American Olympic champion Kyle Snyder and Russian icon Abdulrashid Sadulaev added another legendary chapter under the RAF banner. In a masterclass of heavy-handed hand fighting and precise level changes, Snyder executed a flawless tactical game plan to score a monumental win over “The Russian Tank”. For Fight Artist, this was pure high-level technique on display: Snyder solidified his standing atop the light heavyweight division and demonstrated RAF’s unique ability to host international super-matches that amateur wrestling purists thought they might never see again on American soil.
3. Merab Dvalishvili Outpaces “Triple C” Henry Cejudo
When UFC Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili met former two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, fireworks were guaranteed. Merab’s endless gas tank and explosive wrestling entries proved to be the ultimate difference maker. Neutralizing Cejudo’s legendary freestyle accolades, Merab pushed an unrelenting tempo across all three periods, outscoring “Triple C” to claim one of the biggest signature victories in RAF history.
Full Breakdown: RAF 11 Results and Key Match Outcomes
Outside of the top three showcases, RAF 11 delivered a night filled with emotional farewells, dominant technical performances, and thrilling offensive shootouts across every division.
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RAF 11 OFFICIAL CARD RESULTS
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DIVISION MATCHUP / OUTCOME
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• Crossover Cruiserweight Colby Covington def. Arman Tsarukyan (5-3)
• Cruiserweight Belal Muhammad def. Ben Askren (6-3)
• Catchweight Frankie Edgar def. Clay Guida (9-1)
• Women's Cruiserweight Adeline Gray def. Skylar Grote (5-2)
• Light Heavyweight Trent Hidlay def. M. Magomedov (10-0 TF)
• Middleweight Keegan O'Toole def. Christopher Minto (14-9)
• Heavyweight Anthony Cassioppi def. Mostafa Elders (6-2)
• Light Heavyweight Zac Braunagel def. Pat Downey (12-2 TF)
• Women's Strawweight Lucia Yepez def. Felicity Taylor (10-0 TF)
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Ben Askren Bids Farewell to the Mat
In one of the most emotional moments in recent combat sports history, collegiate legend and MMA veteran Ben Askren made a triumphant return following a life-threatening medical journey. Squaring off against Belal Muhammad, Askren controlled early exchanges to build a 3–0 lead heading into the final period. However, Muhammad rallied with late takedowns to claim a 6–3 victory. Following the final horn, Askren unlaced his wrestling shoes and left them on the mat, signaling his official retirement from competitive wrestling to a standing ovation.
Adeline Gray Makes History
Olympic silver medalist Adeline Gray made RAF history by capturing the promotion’s inaugural Women’s Cruiserweight bout. Overcoming a 2–0 second-period deficit against Skylar Grote, Gray adjusted her offense, scoring a decisive third-period takedown to seal a 5–2 win.
Why Other Combat Promotions Should Study the RAF Playbook
At Fight Artist, we analyze fight promotions not just on their in-ring action, but on their growth infrastructure. In a remarkably short period, RAF has achieved household status among fight fans. Other combat sports organizations should take note of how they operate.
1. Signing Massive Names Across Disciplines
By pairing Olympic gold medalists like Kyle Snyder and Helen Maroulis alongside household UFC superstars like Colby Covington, Merab Dvalishvili, and Arman Tsarukyan, RAF bridges the gap between pure wrestling purists and casual MMA fans. The ability to regularly attract top-tier active athletes gives every card immediate mainstream credibility.
2. High Event Frequency Keeps Fans Engaged
Unlike traditional combat sports promotions that host marquee cards only a few times a year, RAF puts up events very frequently. This relentless schedule builds continuous narrative momentum, ensuring RAF remains constantly trending across sports media.
3. Accessible Dual-Broadcasting Model
RAF’s streaming strategy is a masterclass in audience acquisition. By broadcasting live on Fox Nation in the US while simultaneous streaming for free on its official YouTube channel internationally, RAF removes unnecessary pay-per-view paywalls. This dual approach allows global audiences to discover and digest the product without friction.
Complete Guide: RAF Schedule, Owner, Stream, and Tickets
For readers looking to catch the next action-packed event or learn more about the structure powering Real American Freestyle, here is the essential breakdown:
Who is the RAF Owner?
Real American Freestyle was founded under the leadership of executive Brandon Wimbush along with a visionary investment group aimed at professionalizing international freestyle wrestling. By offering competitive fighter purses, revenue-sharing models, and main-stage broadcast visibility, RAF has created a sustainable financial ecosystem for world-class combat athletes.
How to Stream RAF Live
RAF features a fan-friendly distribution model designed for maximum reach:
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In the United States: Live broadcast streaming is available exclusively via Fox Nation.
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International Viewers: Events stream live and free on the official RAF YouTube Channel outside the US.
Upcoming RAF Schedule & Ticket Information
RAF continues its nationwide and international tour with stacked upcoming fight cards across major arenas.
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RAF 12 (Cleveland, OH): Jordan Burroughs vs. Sean Brady, plus Bo Nickal, Jason Nolf, and David Carr.
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RAF Moscow (Moscow, Russia): International showcase featuring elite international freestyle rosters.
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RAF 13 (Miami, FL): Main event features Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad.
To purchase official tickets, fans can visit SeatGeek or navigate directly to RAF Wrestling.
Final Perspective
The RAF 11 Results prove that Real American Freestyle is not merely a passing experiment—it is a dominant force revolutionizing wrestling and combat sports. From Colby, Snyder, and Merab delivering iconic performances to the promotion’s frictionless streaming model and frequent event cadence, RAF has created a bulletproof model. Fight Artist will continue covering every move as RAF 12 approaches.
