TLDR
- Jordan Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion, will make his RAF debut on August 22
- Burroughs will face UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady at Rocket Arena in Cleveland
- Brady recently defeated Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision in May and has no high school or college wrestling background
- The RAF 12 card includes multiple high-profile matchups including Joaquin Buckley vs. Tyron Woodley
- The event will stream on Fox Nation and features a crossover between traditional wrestling and MMA
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs will make his RAF debut when he faces UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady on August 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The event, RAF 12, will stream on Fox Nation.
Burroughs, 37, is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time. He won Olympic gold in 2012 at 74kg (163.1 pounds) and has claimed six world championships throughout his career.
The wrestling champion also won two NCAA titles at the University of Nebraska. He received the Dan Hodge Trophy, which honors the best college wrestler in the nation.
Brady Brings MMA Experience to the Match
Brady, 33, will also make his first RAF appearance as he awaits his next UFC assignment. The fighter most recently defeated Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision in May.
While Brady is known for his strong grappling skills in MMA, he did not compete in wrestling during high school or college. This makes him a different type of opponent compared to Burroughs’ traditional wrestling background.
🚨 Sean Brady will face Olympic Gold medalist Jordan Burroughs in the main event of RAF 12 on August 22 👀
(via @RAFWrestlingUSA) pic.twitter.com/dmpmmRw7za
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 3, 2026
The matchup puts Burroughs’ pure wrestling expertise against Brady’s mixed martial arts experience. Brady has built his reputation in the UFC octagon rather than on wrestling mats.
Stacked Card Features Multiple High-Profile Matchups
The RAF 12 event includes several other high-profile matches. Joaquin Buckley will face former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley on the same card.
Bo Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion who has transitioned to MMA, will compete against Max McEnelly. Nickal has become one of the most talked-about prospects in combat sports.
David Carr will take on Tajmuraz Salkazanov in another featured bout. Jason Nolf, a two-time NCAA champion, is scheduled to face Evan Wick.
The card also includes Mike Holston versus Larry Williams. Diana Avsaragova will battle Kennedy Blades in what appears to be the lone women’s match on the lineup.
Ben Davino rounds out the announced matchups with a contest against Masanosuke Ono. RAF continues to expand its roster with wrestlers and MMA fighters.
Burroughs joins a growing list of wrestling and combat sports athletes competing for the promotion. The organization has been bringing together talent from different combat sports backgrounds.
The Cleveland event represents a crossover between traditional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Burroughs has spent his entire career in freestyle wrestling competition at the highest levels.
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Brady brings a record of success in the UFC’s welterweight division. His unanimous decision win over Buckley kept him in contention for bigger fights in the organization.
The August 22 date gives both athletes time to prepare for the unique challenge. Burroughs will be testing himself in a different competitive environment than Olympic and world championship wrestling.
Brady faces an opponent with credentials that exceed almost anyone in pure wrestling. The match will take place at Rocket Arena in Cleveland with streaming available through Fox Nation.
