TLDR
- Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis will compete in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 15 on November 28 in Illinois
- Pettis defeated Cerrone twice in the UFC, winning by first-round knockout in 2013 and unanimous decision in 2020
- Cerrone retired from MMA in 2022 after a seven-fight winless streak with the UFC
- Pettis last fought in MMA in 2022 but has stayed active in boxing and Karate Combat
- Both fighters will make their debuts for Real American Freestyle at the event airing on Fox Nation
Sources: sherdog.com | mmafighting.com | sports.yahoo.com
Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis will meet for the third time in their competitive careers, but this time they will face each other on a wrestling mat instead of inside the octagon. Real American Freestyle announced Wednesday that the two former UFC stars are booked for a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 15 on November 28.
The event takes place at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Both fighters will make their debuts for the Real American Freestyle promotion.
COWBOY VS SHOWTIME 🔥
MMA legends Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis face off at #RAF15 in Chicago on NOV 28
Tickets in bio. Watch on @foxnation pic.twitter.com/Pu8rBfHG1O
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) October 7, 2026
Pettis Holds 2-0 Record Over Cerrone
Pettis has won both previous meetings against Cerrone during their UFC careers. Their first fight came in 2013 when Pettis knocked out Cerrone in the first round during his run toward the lightweight championship.
The two rematched seven years later at UFC 249 in 2020. Pettis won again, this time by unanimous decision in a close contest.
Cerrone has never defeated Pettis in competition. The upcoming wrestling match gives “Cowboy” his first opportunity to even the score between the two veterans.
Both Fighters Away from MMA Competition
Cerrone retired from mixed martial arts in 2022 after losing to Jim Miller by submission. That loss capped a difficult final stretch with the UFC, as Cerrone went winless in his last seven fights with the promotion.
Pettis last competed in MMA in August 2022 when he lost a unanimous decision to Stevie Ray in the Professional Fighters League. Since then, he has stayed active in combat sports through boxing and Karate Combat appearances.
In 2024, Pettis defeated Chris Avila by unanimous decision in a boxing match on the undercard of the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal event. This kept “Showtime” in competitive shape despite stepping away from MMA.
The freestyle wrestling match at RAF 15 represents a new challenge for both athletes. Real American Freestyle has built its brand around featuring MMA fighters competing in wrestling matches against each other.
The bout will be contested at cruiserweight. RAF events stream live on Fox Nation for subscribers.
Neither Cerrone nor Pettis has prior competitive wrestling experience at the professional level. Both fighters used wrestling as part of their mixed martial arts training throughout their UFC careers.
Cerrone compiled a 36-17 record during his MMA career, becoming one of the most active fighters in UFC history. He holds multiple UFC records, including most finishes in company history.
Pettis went 24-14 in his professional MMA career and held the UFC lightweight championship in 2013-2014. He remains famous for his “Showtime Kick” off the cage wall against Benson Henderson.
The November 28 event marks the 15th show for Real American Freestyle. The promotion has featured several former UFC fighters since launching its crossover wrestling series.
