TLDR
- Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis will compete in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 15 on November 28 in Hoffman Estates, 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 going winless in his final seven UFC fights
- Pettis has stayed active in boxing and Karate Combat since his last MMA fight in August 2022
- Both fighters will make their debuts for Real American Freestyle at the event streaming on Fox Nation
Sources: mmasucka.com | thebodylockmma.com | thebodylockmma.com
Former UFC stars Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis will meet for a third time on November 28, but this bout will take place on a wrestling mat instead of inside the octagon. Real American Freestyle announced the matchup on Wednesday for RAF 15 at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
The freestyle wrestling match marks a dramatic shift for both fighters, who built their reputations in mixed martial arts. Both Cerrone and Pettis will make their debuts with the Real American Freestyle promotion at the event, which streams on Fox Nation.
Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone meet on the wrestling mats at RAF 15 in Chicago! 🤼♂️ pic.twitter.com/9zaKQmOdEU
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 7, 2026
Pettis currently holds a 2-0 record against Cerrone from their previous encounters in the UFC. Their first meeting came at UFC on FOX 6 in 2013, where Pettis delivered one of the most memorable knockouts of his career with a devastating body kick that ended the fight in the first round.
Seven Years Between Rematches
The two fighters had to wait seven years before meeting again. They finally rematched at UFC 249 in 2020, with both veterans well into the later stages of their careers. Pettis won that encounter by unanimous decision in what turned out to be a competitive fight.
Cerrone never managed to defeat Pettis during their time in the UFC. The upcoming wrestling match gives “Cowboy” his first chance to even the score between them.
After their 2020 rematch, Cerrone competed just three more times in the UFC. He fought Niko Price to a no-contest before suffering consecutive losses to Alex Morono and Jim Miller. Cerrone retired from MMA in 2022 after the submission loss to Miller, ending a difficult stretch where he went winless in his final seven UFC fights.
Cerrone finished his MMA career with a 36-17 record. He became one of the most active fighters in UFC history and holds multiple company records, including most finishes.
Pettis Stays Active in Combat Sports
Pettis has remained more active than his rival since their last fight. He competed in six more MMA bouts after UFC 249, including a stint with the Professional Fighters League. His last MMA fight came in August 2022, a unanimous decision loss to Stevie Ray.
Since stepping away from MMA, Pettis has competed in both boxing and Karate Combat. In 2024, he defeated Chris Avila by unanimous decision in a boxing match on the undercard of the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal event. He also rematched former UFC champion Benson Henderson in Karate Combat.
Pettis compiled a 24-14 professional MMA record and held the UFC lightweight championship from 2013 to 2014. He captured that title in his next fight after defeating Cerrone, submitting Benson Henderson to become champion. Pettis remains famous for his “Showtime Kick” off the cage wall against Henderson.
Neither fighter has competitive wrestling experience at the professional level. Both used wrestling as part of their mixed martial arts training throughout their UFC careers. The bout will be contested at cruiserweight.
Real American Freestyle has built its brand around featuring MMA fighters competing in wrestling matches against each other. RAF 15 marks the 15th show for the promotion since launching its crossover wrestling series.
