Explore the full RAF 03 Chicago results, including match scores, title wins, and surprise finishes from Real American Freestyle’s biggest event yet.
When Real American Freestyle promised it was building something wrestling had never truly had before. A professional league with real stakes, real storylines, and the world’s best athletes on one stage; RAF 03 in Chicago proved that promise wasn’t just marketing. It was a mission. And on this night inside the Wintrust Arena, that mission felt fully alive.
From record-setting prospects to UFC legends returning to their roots, from dramatic last-second pins to new champions crowned, RAF 03 delivered a night that made wrestling feel bold, modern, and undeniably thrilling. This was not a showcase. It was a turning point.
Here’s how the night unfolded.
Bo Bassett Opens the Night With a Statement Win
At just eighteen years old, Bo Bassett walked into Chicago as a phenom. He left as a viral moment.
Facing former NCAA champion and MMA veteran Darrion Caldwell, Bassett wasted no time. He locked in position, elevated, and secured a first-period fall that electrified the entire building. It wasn’t just a win; it was a declaration that the next generation is not waiting its turn.
If RAF wants young, marketable stars, Bassett showed he’s ready to be one.
Alexis Gomez Gets Her Redemption
Two weeks before RAF 03, Bella Mir had tech-falled Alexis Gomez. In Chicago, Gomez flipped the script.
Wrestling with precision and refusing to give Mir the control she thrives on, Gomez notched a clean 7–3 victory, sealing it with a late throw that sent a clear message: rivalry accepted, rivalry renewed.
It was one of the night’s most emotionally charged rebounds.
Technical Mastery: Downey & Henschel Dominate
A pair of technical falls demonstrated what high-level freestyle looks like in full command.
- Patrick Downey blasted through Joaquin Buckley with a 12–0 tech fall, built on big lifts and overwhelming pressure.
- Cayden Henschel shut out MMA fan favorite Clay Guida, scoring an 11–0 tech fall that reinforced RAF’s openness to crossover talent; so long as they come prepared for the pace of elite freestyle.
Both wins were clean, fast, and emphatic.
Jordan Oliver Becomes Champion in a Razor-Thin Thriller
One of the most anticipated matches of the night was the featherweight title bout between Jordan Oliver and Real Woods. And it delivered exactly what a championship match should: tension, technique, and a finish that kept the arena holding its breath.
Tied 2–2 at the end of regulation, Oliver earned the edge through criteria; the last to score – making him the new RAF Featherweight Champion. It was a veteran performance rooted not in dominance, but in discipline.
Oliver’s post-win talk of future Olympic aspirations fit the moment. On this night, he felt like the heartbeat of RAF’s competitive spirit.
Austin Gomez Wins the Battle of the Austins
With a rivalry that started when they were six years old, Austin Gomez and Austin O’Connor met again; but this time on RAF’s biggest stage.
Gomez came out sharp, dynamic, and fully prepared, taking a commanding 9–1 victory over the two-time NCAA champion. The crowd loved it. Gomez loved it. And in his post-match interview, he made sure Yanni Diakomihalis heard his name loud and clear.
This is the kind of real, long-term storytelling RAF is quickly becoming known for.
Yatsenko Stuns Chicago With a Last-Second Fall Over Spencer Lee
Few moments shocked Chicago as much as this one.
Spencer Lee, one of the most decorated lightweight wrestlers of his generation, led Ukraine’s Andriy Yatsenko 9–4 with time expiring. But in a scramble that instantly became RAF history, Yatsenko capitalized on Lee’s back exposure vulnerability and secured a fall with one second left.
A gasp swept the arena, followed by an eruption.
It wasn’t just an upset; it was a reminder that RAF’s rule set creates space for real drama, even in the final heartbeat of a match.
Akhmed Tazhudinov Rolls Through Heavyweight Test
Olympic champion Akhmed Tazhudinov faced a determined Anthony Cassioppi, who pushed the pace early. But once Tazhudinov found his rhythm, the match shifted quickly. A clean step-over and controlled pressure led to a second-period fall, reinforcing why Tazhudinov has been called one of the most dominant heavyweights in the world.
RAF’s heavyweight division has officially found its benchmark.
Kennedy Blades: A Champion in Her Hometown
If any athlete felt destined for an RAF moment, it was Kennedy Blades.
In front of a roaring Chicago crowd, Blades put on a masterclass, scoring five takedowns and securing an 11–0 technical fall over Alejandra Rivera Arriaga to become the new RAF Women’s Featherweight Champion.
Her interview afterward was gracious, powerful, and full of pride. She credited RAF for offering a stage that feels different than anything she’s experienced; even at the highest levels of international competition.
Blades didn’t just win a title. She became one of the foundational stars of RAF’s women’s division.
Main Event: Chandler vs. Mendes Delivers Grit, Heart, and a Callout Heard Around the Arena
Two MMA icons stepped back onto the wrestling mat, and the match lived up to the anticipation. Michael Chandler and Chad Mendes traded explosive scrambles, heavy pressure, and tactical exchanges.
Mendes attempted his signature cement mixer, but Chandler countered beautifully, turning it into a match-defining exposure. He held the lead to the end, securing a 4–1 decision and closing RAF 03 with a win that felt both nostalgic and newly relevant.
But the night’s final spark came in Chandler’s post-match message:
He called out Jordan Burroughs.
Bigger. Faster. Stronger. More dangerous.
Whether Burroughs responds or not, RAF 03 ended with the kind of headline-ready moment that propels a promotion forward.
RAF 03 Was More Than an Event—It Was a Launchpad
What set RAF 03 apart wasn’t just the match results; it was the sense of arrival.
- A teenage prodigy pinning a former NCAA champion.
- Multiple technical falls from rising stars.
- An Olympic champion reinforcing his dominance.
- Two new RAF champions crowned.
- A last-second upset that will live in highlight reels for years.
- And a main-event callout bold enough to shift the conversation in global wrestling.
RAF positioned itself not just as another wrestling event, but as a league with vision; embracing entertainment without sacrificing the integrity of world-class freestyle.
