If you’re like me, you are an MMA and boxing lifer. To take things further, I’m also a lifelong WWE fan. While we respect freestyle and collegiate-style wrestling, the sport has never had a platform that pushed it into the mainstream–until now.
Real American Freestyle is headed for its third major event in Chicago at the WinTrust Arena. This card is the most stacked in the promotion’s short history and it is packed with recognizable names from the world of freestyle wrestling and the UFC.
When it comes to RAF, for many, we are in the edutainment stage. Many fans will be learning about the sport and promotion while hopefully being entertained by what they see.
I had an opportunity to sit down with Bronstein and Martinez to discuss their vision and promotion. Here’s everything you should know about RAF 3 and Real American Freestyle.
What is Real American Freestyle Wrestling?
RAF is a professional wrestling league founded by Bronstein and Martinez, with WWE/WCW legend Eric Bischoff as a partner. The promotion aims to bring international-style freestyle wrestling to mainstream American audiences by blending elite competition with entertainment-caliber production.
“We wanted to build a league that draws people who love boxing and MMA but don’t really watch wrestling,” Bronstein said. “Eric Bischoff being who he is really brings that production angle.”
Martinez, an eight-time Illinois state championship wrestling coach, emphasized the matchmaking philosophy: “Everybody has been dreaming about these type of matchups, and that’s what me and Chad are doing. We’re putting them together and putting them on the mainstream.”
What Can Fans Expect?
RAF blends high-level athletic competition with a fan-first presentation. Michael Chandler, who headlines the Chicago card against Chad Mendes, described the approach.
“They are not just going to put on wrestling matches,” Chandler said. “They’re going to put on an awesome show that maybe you don’t remember how every single match went, but you will remember how you felt at the event.”
Clay Guida, competing in his first RAF event, highlighted the action-packed nature of freestyle rules: “It’s more exciting than folk style. There’s high-flying throws, big takedowns, a fast pace. It’s super action-packed.”
RAF matches consist of three two-minute periods with 30-second breaks between each. The promotion tweaked standard freestyle rules for better fan engagement and pacing.
Here’s how scoring works:
- Takedown (2 points): Bringing your opponent to the mat and establishing control
- Exposure from standing (4-5 points): Executing a throw that puts your opponent’s back toward the mat—the bigger the amplitude, the more points
- Exposure from ground (2 points): Turning an opponent and exposing their back from the mat position
- Reversal (1 point): Going from bottom position to top
- Push-out (1 point): Forcing your opponent completely out of bounds
- Shot clock (1 point): If a wrestler is too passive, they get a 30-second clock to score—fail to score and the opponent gets a point
- Caution (1 point): Awarded for infractions like fleeing, unsportsmanlike conduct, or excessive injury timeouts
If a wrestler builds a 10-point lead at any point, the match ends immediately by technical superiority. In the event of a tie, the winner is simply whoever scored the last point—no complicated tiebreakers for new fans to figure out.
How Can Fans Watch?
RAF 3 takes place November 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The event streams live on Fox Nation at 9 PM Eastern / 8 PM Central.
“We have an unbelievable partner in Fox,” Bronstein said. “Fox gives the platform for all the athletes to build their brands.”
Here’s a look at the complete card.
- Michael Chandler vs. Chad Mendes
- Bo Bassett vs. Darrion Caldwell
- Clay Guida vs. Cayden Henschel
- Austin O’Connor vs. Austin Gomez
- Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Rivera Arriaga
- Real Woods vs. Jordan Oliver
- Bella Mir vs. Alexis Gomez
- Akhmed Tazhudinov vs. Anthony Cassioppi
- Spencer Lee vs. Andriy Yatsenko
- Patrick Downey vs. Joaquin Buckley
Who’s Part of the RAF Roster?
The Chicago card features a blend of UFC veterans and elite wrestlers. The main event pits Chandler against Chad Mendes, both former UFC title contenders and decorated collegiate wrestlers. Joaquin Buckley faces Pat Downey, while Guida takes on social media star and accomplished wrestler Caden Henshaw. Bo Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion and rising UFC contender, also competes.
Previous RAF events have featured Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis, world-ranked Kennedy Blades, and Olympic champion Kyle Dake.
“Anybody that has any wrestling credentials and wants to compete and be the best, I’ve reached out to them,” Martinez said. “We got our eye on them all.”
Why UFC Fighters Want to Compete in RAF
For established fighters, RAF offers a unique opportunity to return to their roots while staying sharp between MMA bouts.
“Never in my life did I think I’d be getting paid to wrestle,” Mendes said. “Wrestling made me the human I am today. I owe everything I have to the sport.”
Chandler echoed that sentiment: “If I would have not stepped onto the wrestling mat at Northwest High School and then walked on to the University of Missouri, I wouldn’t be the man that I am, the father that I am, and the husband that I am.”
For active UFC competitors like Buckley, RAF serves a different purpose—skill development with high visibility.
“I can’t lose in this situation,” Buckley explained. “I get to work with one of the best in this field, I get paid for it, and I get as many eyes as possible on me. It’s branding and marketing that I believe is very important in my career right now.”
Nickal, whose wrestling pedigree includes three NCAA titles, sees RAF as a way to give back: “Wrestling is just so close to my heart. I love being able to push the sport forward, and RAF is definitely doing that.”
Be on the lookout for full results from RAF 3 after the event.
