Overview
- RAF announced on Wednesday that former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will make his promotional debut against No. 10 welterweight Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on Aug. 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
- The match marks Woodley’s return to competitive wrestling after a decorated collegiate career at the University of Missouri and recent struggles in MMA and professional boxing.
- Buckley, a Missouri native who never wrestled in college, returns to RAF after a technical-fall loss to Pat Downey and is carrying a short losing run in UFC competition.
- Wrestling Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs is also slated for the RAF 12 card though his opponent has not been named, and RAF has scheduled additional summer events ahead of the August show.
- By pairing elite amateur names with crossover combat-sports figures and securing Fox Nation exclusivity, RAF aims to broaden its audience and raise the profile of on‑mat freestyle competition.