{ "id": "epc3rr7zab", "slug": "raf-02", "title": "RAF 02", "updated": "2026-10-25", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries", "label": "Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" } ] } ], "excerpt": "RAF 02 was the second event of Real American Freestyle wrestling, held October 25, 2025 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Fox Nation; Kyle Dake beat Boris Makoev 7-1 for the cruiserweight title.", "snippet": "RAF 02 was the second event of Real American Freestyle wrestling, held October 25, 2025 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Fox Nation; Kyle Dake beat Boris Makoev 7-1 for the cruiserweight title.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries", "markdown": "# RAF 02\n\n**RAF 02** was the second live event staged by [Real American Freestyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-american-freestyle) (RAF), a professional freestyle wrestling promotion, held on October 25, 2025 at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in [State College, Pennsylvania](https://www.edgepedia.org/state-college-pennsylvania), and streamed exclusively on Fox Nation.[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) • [2](https://www.wrestling.news/articles/real-american-freestyle-raf02-event-guide-final-match-card-how-to-watch-ticket-info-what-to-expect) The card was headlined by [Kyle Dake](https://www.edgepedia.org/kyle-dake)'s cruiserweight title defense against Boris Makoev and included four championship bouts among its ten matches.[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Date and venue | October 25, 2025, Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) |\n| Broadcast | Exclusively on Fox Nation, starting 7:00 p.m. EST[2](https://www.wrestling.news/articles/real-american-freestyle-raf02-event-guide-final-match-card-how-to-watch-ticket-info-what-to-expect) |\n| Main event | Kyle Dake defeated Boris Makoev by decision, 7-1, retaining the RAF Cruiserweight Championship[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) |\n| Other title bouts | Helen Maroulis won the women's flyweight title 6-0 over Samantha Stewart; Nathan Tomasello won the bantamweight title 5-3 over Matt Ramos; David Carr won the welterweight title 18-6 over Amr Reda[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/) • [1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) |\n| Card size | Ten bouts, four of them title fights[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) |\n| Attendance | Around 3,000 attendees, after the debut RAF 01 event drew a sold-out crowd of 4,500[4](https://athelogroup.com/blog/real-american-freestyle-creates-new-path/) |\n| Follow-up | RAF 03 was announced for Chicago on November 29, 2025[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/) |\n\n## Background and promotion\n\nReal American Freestyle was founded in 2025 by Chad Bronstein together with [Eric Bischoff](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-bischoff) and the late [Hulk Hogan](https://www.edgepedia.org/hulk-hogan), presenting unscripted freestyle wrestling between Olympic, NCAA, and MMA competitors in a fight-night format.[5](https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1577252-eric-bischoff-confirms-talks-weekly-raf-wrestling-series) • [6](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/06/18/real-american-freestyle-ohio-hulk-hogan) The promotion's debut event, [RAF 01](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-01), took place in Cleveland in August 2025.[5](https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1577252-eric-bischoff-confirms-talks-weekly-raf-wrestling-series)\n\nThe second event was first announced for November 8 in Penn State University's historic Rec Hall.[5](https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1577252-eric-bischoff-confirms-talks-weekly-raf-wrestling-series) It was ultimately held on October 25 at the larger Bryce Jordan Center, with a ticket-information update reported by WHTM-TV covering the new date.[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) [Kurt Angle](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-angle) worked commentary alongside Bubba Jenkins, with guest analysts including [Bo Nickal](https://www.edgepedia.org/bo-nickal), and Eric Bischoff served as the promotion's Chief Media Officer.[2](https://www.wrestling.news/articles/real-american-freestyle-raf02-event-guide-final-match-card-how-to-watch-ticket-info-what-to-expect)\n\n## Card changes\n\nDays before the event, the lineup changed in two places. Roman Bravo-Young, the former Penn State national champion, was confirmed injured and removed from the card; Matt Ramos took his place, setting up an immediate rematch against bantamweight champion Nathan Tomasello, who had beaten Ramos 4-3 on the first RAF card. Ukrainian Andriy Yatsenko was also removed, with Iowa All-American Austin DeSanto inserted to face 2016 NCAA champion Nico Megaludis.[7](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/raf-02-card-updates-announced-r100588/)\n\n## Results\n\nAll ten bouts, with winners, methods, and scores as reported:[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/) • [1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n\n- [Bantamweight](https://www.edgepedia.org/bantamweight): Austin DeSanto defeated Nico Megaludis by technical fall, 10-0, in the card's opening match[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n- [Welterweight](https://www.edgepedia.org/welterweight): Tajmuraz Salkazanov defeated James Green by decision, 4-4 (criteria)[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n- Unlimited: Mason Parris defeated Alexandr Romanov by technical fall, 11-0[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n- Openweight: Cayden Henschel defeated Keelon Jimison by technical fall, 11-1[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n- Cruiserweight: Nate Jackson defeated [Carter Starocci](https://www.edgepedia.org/carter-starocci) by decision, 7-2, in Starocci's RAF debut[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/) • [1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n- Heavyweight: Jake Varner defeated Pat Downey by decision, 5-1[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n- Welterweight title: David Carr defeated Amr Reda by technical fall, 18-6[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n- Bantamweight title: Nathan Tomasello defeated Matt Ramos by decision, 5-3[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n- Women's flyweight title: Helen Maroulis defeated Samantha Stewart by decision, 6-0[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n- Cruiserweight title (main event): Kyle Dake defeated Boris Makoev by decision, 7-1[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n\n**Main event.** Dake, who won four NCAA titles at four separate weights and took Olympic bronze twice, dominated the handfight right from the start, earned push-outs in each period, and capped things off with a late takedown plus exposure against Makoev, a two-time World medalist.[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) Maroulis, a three-time Olympic medalist, shut out Canada's Samantha Stewart for the women's flyweight title.[1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n\n## Format and rules\n\nRAF bouts use modified freestyle rules: three two-minute periods, a 10-point lead ending the bout as a technical fall, no overtime, and no brackets or teams. A takedown is worth 2 points, a step-out 1, standing exposure 4 or 5, and a wrestler who fails to score within 30 seconds of a passivity warning concedes a point to the opponent.[8](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/) When a bout is tied after three periods, the last wrestler to score wins on criteria, which is how Salkazanov's 4-4 bout with Green was decided.[8](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/) • [3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n\n## Aftermath\n\nThe event was followed by [RAF 03](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03) in Chicago on November 29, 2025, with [Holly Holm](https://www.edgepedia.org/holly-holm) confirmed for that card.[3](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/) • [1](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/) In January 2026, Fox Nation extended its partnership with RAF in a new long-term agreement to remain the league's exclusive broadcast partner, citing RAF as a top subscription driver for the platform.[9](https://www.foxnews.com/press/2026/01/fox-nation-extends-partnership-with-real-american-freestyle-in-new-long-term-deal)\n\n## References\n\n1. [RAF 02 Results: Dake vs Makoev, Full Fight Card, RAF Insider](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf02/)\n2. [Real American Freestyle RAF02 Event Guide, Wrestling.news](https://www.wrestling.news/articles/real-american-freestyle-raf02-event-guide-final-match-card-how-to-watch-ticket-info-what-to-expect)\n3. [RAF 02 rolls out of State College with more momentum, Illinois Matmen](https://illinoismatmen.com/raf-02-rolls-out-of-state-college-with-more-momentum/)\n4. [Real American Freestyle Creates New Path for College Athletes, Athelo Group](https://athelogroup.com/blog/real-american-freestyle-creates-new-path/)\n5. [Eric Bischoff Confirms Talks With Multiple Networks About Weekly RAF Wrestling Series, Wrestlezone](https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1577252-eric-bischoff-confirms-talks-weekly-raf-wrestling-series)\n6. [Hulk Hogan's new endeavor has Cleveland ties, Axios Cleveland](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/06/18/real-american-freestyle-ohio-hulk-hogan)\n7. [RAF 02 Card Updates Announced, InterMat](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/raf-02-card-updates-announced-r100588/)\n8. [RAF Wrestling Rules: Real American Freestyle Scoring & Format](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/)\n9. [FOX Nation Extends Partnership With Real American Freestyle in New Long-Term Deal, Fox News Media](https://www.foxnews.com/press/2026/01/fox-nation-extends-partnership-with-real-american-freestyle-in-new-long-term-deal)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"RAF 02\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[RAF 02](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"RAF 02\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "RAF 02 was the second event of Real American Freestyle wrestling, held October 25, 2025 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Fox Nation; Kyle Dake beat Boris Makoev 7-1 for the cruiserweight title." }