List of Real American Freestyle champions

Real American Freestyle (RAF) champions have been crowned in various weight classes, and this is a history of their reigns.

Current champions

RAF champions as of September 19, 2026.

Men

Division	Weight	Champion	Since	Days	Defenses
Heavyweight	285 lb (129 kg)	Wyatt Hendrickson	August 30, 2025	415	2
Light Heavyweight	215 lb (98 kg)	Kyle Snyder	March 28, 2026	205	4
Cruiserweight	190 lb (86 kg)	Kyle Dake	August 30, 2025	415	5
Cruiserweight Crossover	190 lb (86 kg)	Colby Covington	July 18, 2026	93	1
Middleweight	175 lb (79 kg)	Jason Nolf	August 22, 2026	58	1
Middleweight Crossover	175 lb (79 kg)	vacant	—	—	—
Welterweight	165 lb (75 kg)	David Carr	October 25, 2025	359	2
Lightweight	155 lb (70 kg)	vacant	—	—	—
Lightweight Crossover	155 lb (70 kg)	Henry Cejudo	August 22, 2026	58	0
Featherweight	145 lb (66 kg)	Real Woods	May 30, 2026	142	0
Featherweight Crossover	145 lb (66 kg)	Cayden Henschel	September 18, 2026	31	0
Bantamweight	135 lb (61 kg)	Arsen Harutyunyan	September 18, 2026	31	0

Women

Division	Weight	Champion	Since	Days	Defenses
Cruiserweight	170 lb (77 kg)	vacant	—	—	—
Middleweight	150 lb (68 kg)	Kennedy Blades	November 29, 2025	324	4
Bantamweight	130 lb (59 kg)	Helen Maroulis	October 25, 2025	359	2
Strawweight	120 lb (54 kg)	Lucía Yépez	June 23, 2026	88	1

Men's championship history

Heavyweight Championship

216 to 285 lb (98 to 129 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Wyatt Hendrickson def. Mostafa Elders	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	415 days (incumbent)	1. def. Mason Parris at RAF 04 on Dec 20, 2025 2. def. Trent Hillger at RAF 07 on Mar 28, 2026

Light Heavyweight Championship

191 to 215 lb (87 to 98 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Bo Nickal def. Jacob Cardenas	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	181 days
—	Yoel Romero def. Pat Downey for interim title	RAF 04 Fishers, IN, US	Dec 20, 2025	—
Romero was stripped of the interim title on January 10, 2026, after missing weight at RAF 05.
Nickal was stripped of the title on February 27, 2026, after the weight class changed from 205 lb to 215 lb
2	Kyle Snyder def. Akhmed Tazhudinov	RAF 07 Tampa, FL, US	Mar 28, 2026	205 days (incumbent)	1. def. Rizabek Aitmukhan at RAF 08 on Apr 18, 2026 2. def. Givi Matcharashvili at RAF 09 on May 30, 2026 3. def. Abdulrashid Sadulaev at RAF Georgia on Jul 11, 2026 4. def. Akhmed Tazhudinov at RAF Moscow on Sep 5, 2026

Cruiserweight Championship

176 to 190 lb (80 to 86 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Kyle Dake def. Dean Hamiti	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	415 days (incumbent)	1. def. Boris Makoev at RAF 02 on Oct 25, 2025 2. def. Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau at RAF 05 on Jan 10, 2026 3. def. Parker Keckeisen at RAF 07 on Mar 28, 2026 4. def. Vladimer Gamkrelidze at RAF Georgia on Jul 11, 2026 5. def. Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau at RAF Moscow on Sep 5, 2026

Middleweight Championship

166 to 175 lb (75 to 79 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Evan Wick def. Jason Nolf	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	112 days
2	Dean Hamiti	RAF 04 Fishers, IN, US	Dec 20, 2025	186 days
Hamiti was stripped of the title on June 23, 2026.
3	Jason Nolf	RAF 12 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 22, 2026	58 days (incumbent)	1. def. Julian Ramirez at RAF 13 on Sep 18, 2026

Welterweight Championship

156 to 165 lb (71 to 75 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	David Carr def. Amr Reda Hussen	RAF 02 State College, PA, US	Oct 25, 2025	359 days (incumbent)	1. def. Bubba Jenkins at RAF 06 on Feb 28, 2026 2. def. Tajmuraz Salkazanov at RAF 12 on Aug 22, 2026

Lightweight Championship

146 to 155 lb (66 to 70 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Yianni Diakomihalis def. Bajrang Punia	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	225 days
Diakomihalis was stripped of the title on April 12, 2026.

Featherweight Championship

136 to 145 lb (62 to 66 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)
1	Real Woods def. Darrion Caldwell	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	91 days
2	Jordan Oliver	RAF 03 Chicago, IL, US	Nov 29, 2025	42 days
Oliver was stripped of the title on January 10, 2026, after missing weight at RAF 05.
3	Real Woods (2) def. Ibragim Ilyasov	RAF 09 Arlington, TX, US	May 30, 2026	142 days (incumbent)

Bantamweight Championship

126 to 135 lb (57 to 61 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Nathan Tomasello def. Matt Ramos	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	133 days	1. def. Matt Ramos at RAF 02 on Oct 25, 2025
2	Austin DeSanto	RAF 05 Sunrise, FL, US	Jan 10, 2026	251 day	1. def. Reineri Andreu at RAF 10 on June 13, 2026
3	Arsen Harutyunyan	RAF 13 Miami, FL, US	Sep 18, 2026	31 days (incumbent)

Women's championship history

Women's Cruiserweight Championship

151 to 170 lb (68 to 77 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	TBD def. TBD

Women's Middleweight Championship

141 to 150 lb (64 to 68 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Kennedy Blades def. Alejandra Rivera	RAF 03 Chicago, IL, US	Nov 29, 2025	324 days (incumbent)	1. def. Alara Boyd at RAF 04 on Dec 20, 2025 2. def. Milana Dudieva at RAF 07 on Mar 28, 2026 3. def. Vusala Parfianovich at RAF Moscow on Sep 5, 2026 4. def. Diana Avsaragova at RAF 13 on Sep 18, 2026

Women's Bantamweight Championship

121 to 130 lb (55 to 59 kg)

The Women's Bantamweight Championship was known as the Women's Flyweight Championship prior to RAF 08.

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Helen Maroulis def. Samantha Stewart	RAF 02 State College, PA, US	Oct 25, 2025	359 days (incumbent)	1. def. Alexis Janiak at RAF 08 on Apr 18, 2026 2. def. Anhelina Lysak at RAF Georgia on Jul 11, 2026

Women's Strawweight Championship

111 to 120 lb (50 to 54 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Sarah Hildebrandt def. Zeltzin Hernandez	RAF 01 Cleveland, OH, US	Aug 30, 2025	297 days
—	Lucía Yépez def. Kendra Ryan for interim title	RAF 10 St. Louis, MO, US	Jun 13, 2026	—
Hildebrandt was stripped of the title on June 23, 2026.
2	Lucía Yépez promoted to undisputed champion	—	Jun 23, 2026	118 days (incumbent)	1. def. Felicity Taylor at RAF 11 on Jul 18, 2026

Crossover Championship History

The RAF created the Crossover Cruiserweight Championship titles as a symbolic special attraction title for athletes crossing over from other sports to compete on the RAF mats. The belt allows non‑RAF competitors, including former UFC fighters, collegiate wrestlers, grapplers, and other crossover athletes, to participate in featured bouts without entering the official cruiserweight rankings or affecting the divisional title lineage.

Cruiserweight Crossover Championship

176 to 190 lb (80 to 86 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Colby Covington def. Arman Tsarukyan	RAF 11 Milwaukee, WI, US	July 18, 2026	95 days (incumbent)	1. def. Belal Muhammad at RAF 13 on Sep 18, 2026

Middleweight Crossover Championship

166 to 175 lb (75 to 79 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	TBD def. TBD	RAF 14 Las Vegas, NV, US	October 3, 2026

Lightweight Crossover Championship

146 to 155 lb (66 to 70 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Henry Cejudo def. Merab Dvalishvili	RAF 12 Cleveland, OH, US	August 22, 2026	58 days (incumbent)

Featherweight Crossover Championship

136 to 145 lb (62 to 66 kg)

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign (Total)	Defenses
1	Cayden Henschel def. Johnni DiJulius	RAF 13 Miami, FL, US	September 18, 2026	31 days (incumbent)

Honorary championship history

Legends Championship

No.	Name	Event	Date	Accolades
1	Nate Carr	RAF 06 Tempe, AZ, US	February 28, 2026	Olympic bronze medalist (1988) Three-time NCAA Division I Champion (1981, 1982, 1983)
2	Ryan Blackwell	RAF 07 Tampa, FL, US	March 28, 2026	Navy and Marine Corps Medal recipient (2020) Two-time NCHSAA champion (2009, 2010)
3	Dan Gable	RAF 10 St. Louis, MO, US	June 13, 2026	Olympic gold medalist (1972) World Champion (1971) Two-time NCAA Division I Champion (1968, 1969)

References

↑ "RAF Champions". Real American Freestyle. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Howard, Leah (August 31, 2025). "2025 World Team members Woods, Hendrickson, Olympic champion Hildebrandt shine in RAF 01 in Cleveland". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
1 2 3 4 5 Immel, Richard (December 21, 2025). "Hendrickson tops Parris; Blades, Carr defend titles; Hamiti, Romero earn belts at RAF 04". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
1 2 3 4 Al-Shatti, Shaheen (March 29, 2026). "RAF 7 results: Arman Tsarukyan crushes Georgio Poullas in wild rematch; Colby Covington destroys Dillon Danis". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
1 2 Heck, Mike (January 10, 2026). "Bo Nickal vs. Yoel Romero scrapped from RAF 5 at last minute after weight miss". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
↑ Real American Freestyle (February 27, 2026). "Huge news for the Light Heavyweight division. We're adjusting the class to better align with the Olympic weight structure. All other divisions remain unchanged". Instagram. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
1 2 Fowlkes, Ben (April 19, 2026). "RAF 8 results: Arman Tsarukyan runs Urijah Faber off the mat in lopsided victory, calls out Colby Covington". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
1 2 Riggs, Drake (May 31, 2026). "RAF 9 results: Gable Steveson, Merab Dvalishvili dominate; Arman Tsarukyan vs. Colby Covington set for July". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
↑ Gerhart, David (July 11, 2026). "Snyder Pins Sadulaev, Dake and Maroulis also Retain Belts at RAF Georgia". USA Wrestling. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
↑ "Snyder, Dake, Blades defend titles, Americans roll at RAF Moscow". USA Wrestling. September 5, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
1 2 3 4 Immel, Richard (October 26, 2025). "Olympic champions Maroulis, Varner among RAF 02 winners at Penn State". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
1 2 Riggs, Drake (January 11, 2026). "RAF 5 results: Colby Covington, Arman Tsarukyan dominate; Yoel Romero gets shut out". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
↑ "RAF Georgia: 'Merab Vs. Cejudo' Live Results, Highlights". Retrieved July 11, 2026.
↑ "Snyder, Dake, Blades defend titles, Americans roll at RAF Moscow". Retrieved September 5, 2026.
↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-06-23). "Evan Wick takes on Jason Nolf for the RAF Middleweight Championship August 22 in Cleveland at RAF12". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
↑ "RAF 13". Retrieved 2026-09-19.
↑ Dawson, Alan (March 1, 2026). "RAF 6 results: Henry Cejudo blanks Urijah Faber; Arman Tsarukyan erupts with post-match punches". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
↑ "RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo destroys Merab Dvalishvili in monster showing; Jordan Burroughs, Gable Steveson win". Retrieved August 22, 2026.
↑ Real American Freestyle (April 12, 2026). "THE CHAMPS". Instagram. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
1 2 Immel, Richard (November 30, 2025). "Blades, Oliver earn championship belts, Lee upset at RAF 03 in Chicago". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
1 2 Behunin, Alexander (June 13, 2026). "RAF 10 live stream results, discussion and video highlights". MMA Mania. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
↑ "RAF 13 results: Colby Covington obliterates Belal Muhammad; Khamzat Chimaev claims another victim". Retrieved September 18, 2026.
↑ "Snyder, Dake, Blades defend titles, Americans roll at RAF Moscow". Retrieved September 5, 2026.
↑ "RAF 13 results: Colby Covington obliterates Belal Muhammad; Khamzat Chimaev claims another victim". Retrieved September 18, 2026.
↑ "RAF Georgia: 'Merab Vs. Cejudo' Live Results, Highlights". July 11, 2026.
↑ rafwrestlingusa (2026-06-23). "Lucia Yepez defends the RAF Strawweight Championship against Felicity Taylor July 18 in Milwaukee at RAF11". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
↑ rafwrestlingusa (2026-06-23). "Lucia Yepez defends the RAF Strawweight Championship against Felicity Taylor July 18 in Milwaukee at RAF11". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
↑ "RAF 11 live stream results, discussion and video highlights". Retrieved 2026-07-18.
↑ Jesse Holland (2026-07-14). "Colby Covington gets another title shot, battles Arman for Crossover Championship at RAF 11". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
↑ "RAF 11 live stream results, discussion and video highlights". Retrieved July 18, 2026.
↑ "RAF 13 results: Colby Covington obliterates Belal Muhammad; Khamzat Chimaev claims another victim". Retrieved September 18, 2026.
↑ "RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo destroys Merab Dvalishvili in monster showing; Jordan Burroughs, Gable Steveson win". August 22, 2026.
↑ "RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo destroys Merab Dvalishvili in monster showing; Jordan Burroughs, Gable Steveson win". September 18, 2026.
↑ Lee, Alexander K. (March 1, 2026). "RAF's Eric Bischoff 'disappointed' by Arman Tsarukyan brawl at RAF 6". MMA Fighting. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
↑ Blackwell, Ryan (March 29, 2026). "Honored and humbled to be named the RAF Legends Champion and to bring home the Legends Belt". Instagram. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
↑ Bischoff, Eric (June 13, 2026). "Tonight, along with my partners @ChadBronstein and @IzzyStyle have the honor to award Coach Gable the Real American Freestyle Legends Championship on @foxnation". X. Retrieved June 13, 2026.

[f100-1] "RAF Champions". Real American Freestyle. Retrieved September 19, 2026.

[y309-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Howard, Leah (August 31, 2025). "2025 World Team members Woods, Hendrickson, Olympic champion Hildebrandt shine in RAF 01 in Cleveland". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.

[s503-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Immel, Richard (December 21, 2025). "Hendrickson tops Parris; Blades, Carr defend titles; Hamiti, Romero earn belts at RAF 04". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.

[t926-4] 1 2 3 4 Al-Shatti, Shaheen (March 29, 2026). "RAF 7 results: Arman Tsarukyan crushes Georgio Poullas in wild rematch; Colby Covington destroys Dillon Danis". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2026.

[k800-5] 1 2 Heck, Mike (January 10, 2026). "Bo Nickal vs. Yoel Romero scrapped from RAF 5 at last minute after weight miss". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 10, 2026.

[y298-6] Real American Freestyle (February 27, 2026). "Huge news for the Light Heavyweight division. We're adjusting the class to better align with the Olympic weight structure. All other divisions remain unchanged". Instagram. Retrieved February 27, 2026.

[s928-7] 1 2 Fowlkes, Ben (April 19, 2026). "RAF 8 results: Arman Tsarukyan runs Urijah Faber off the mat in lopsided victory, calls out Colby Covington". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2026.

[x619-8] 1 2 Riggs, Drake (May 31, 2026). "RAF 9 results: Gable Steveson, Merab Dvalishvili dominate; Arman Tsarukyan vs. Colby Covington set for July". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 31, 2026.

[z742-9] Gerhart, David (July 11, 2026). "Snyder Pins Sadulaev, Dake and Maroulis also Retain Belts at RAF Georgia". USA Wrestling. Retrieved July 12, 2026.

[10] "Snyder, Dake, Blades defend titles, Americans roll at RAF Moscow". USA Wrestling. September 5, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.

[b691-11] 1 2 3 4 Immel, Richard (October 26, 2025). "Olympic champions Maroulis, Varner among RAF 02 winners at Penn State". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.

[g566-12] 1 2 Riggs, Drake (January 11, 2026). "RAF 5 results: Colby Covington, Arman Tsarukyan dominate; Yoel Romero gets shut out". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 11, 2026.

[13] "RAF Georgia: 'Merab Vs. Cejudo' Live Results, Highlights". Retrieved July 11, 2026.

[14] "Snyder, Dake, Blades defend titles, Americans roll at RAF Moscow". Retrieved September 5, 2026.

[15] Real American Freestyle (2026-06-23). "Evan Wick takes on Jason Nolf for the RAF Middleweight Championship August 22 in Cleveland at RAF12". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.

[16] "RAF 13". Retrieved 2026-09-19.

[v299-17] Dawson, Alan (March 1, 2026). "RAF 6 results: Henry Cejudo blanks Urijah Faber; Arman Tsarukyan erupts with post-match punches". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 1, 2026.

[18] "RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo destroys Merab Dvalishvili in monster showing; Jordan Burroughs, Gable Steveson win". Retrieved August 22, 2026.

[w188-19] Real American Freestyle (April 12, 2026). "THE CHAMPS". Instagram. Retrieved April 12, 2026.

[p892-20] 1 2 Immel, Richard (November 30, 2025). "Blades, Oliver earn championship belts, Lee upset at RAF 03 in Chicago". USA Wrestling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.

[mtd8o-21] 1 2 Behunin, Alexander (June 13, 2026). "RAF 10 live stream results, discussion and video highlights". MMA Mania. Retrieved June 13, 2026.

[22] "RAF 13 results: Colby Covington obliterates Belal Muhammad; Khamzat Chimaev claims another victim". Retrieved September 18, 2026.

[23] "Snyder, Dake, Blades defend titles, Americans roll at RAF Moscow". Retrieved September 5, 2026.

[24] "RAF 13 results: Colby Covington obliterates Belal Muhammad; Khamzat Chimaev claims another victim". Retrieved September 18, 2026.

[25] "RAF Georgia: 'Merab Vs. Cejudo' Live Results, Highlights". July 11, 2026.

[26] rafwrestlingusa (2026-06-23). "Lucia Yepez defends the RAF Strawweight Championship against Felicity Taylor July 18 in Milwaukee at RAF11". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.

[27] rafwrestlingusa (2026-06-23). "Lucia Yepez defends the RAF Strawweight Championship against Felicity Taylor July 18 in Milwaukee at RAF11". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.

[28] "RAF 11 live stream results, discussion and video highlights". Retrieved 2026-07-18.

[29] Jesse Holland (2026-07-14). "Colby Covington gets another title shot, battles Arman for Crossover Championship at RAF 11". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2026-07-25.

[30] "RAF 11 live stream results, discussion and video highlights". Retrieved July 18, 2026.

[31] "RAF 13 results: Colby Covington obliterates Belal Muhammad; Khamzat Chimaev claims another victim". Retrieved September 18, 2026.

[32] "RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo destroys Merab Dvalishvili in monster showing; Jordan Burroughs, Gable Steveson win". August 22, 2026.

[33] "RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo destroys Merab Dvalishvili in monster showing; Jordan Burroughs, Gable Steveson win". September 18, 2026.

[x067-34] Lee, Alexander K. (March 1, 2026). "RAF's Eric Bischoff 'disappointed' by Arman Tsarukyan brawl at RAF 6". MMA Fighting. Retrieved June 11, 2026.

[p743-35] Blackwell, Ryan (March 29, 2026). "Honored and humbled to be named the RAF Legends Champion and to bring home the Legends Belt". Instagram. Retrieved June 11, 2026.

[y553-36] Bischoff, Eric (June 13, 2026). "Tonight, along with my partners @ChadBronstein and @IzzyStyle have the honor to award Coach Gable the Real American Freestyle Legends Championship on @foxnation". X. Retrieved June 13, 2026.