{ "id": "ep0gsws1yr", "slug": "raf-03", "title": "RAF 03", "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_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality", "label": "Celebrity, family, lifestyle, and court reality series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps", "label": "Lifestyle, dating, and docusoaps", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps.celebrity-and-family-docusoaps", "label": "Celebrity and family docusoaps", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps.celebrity-and-family-docusoaps" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps.celebrity-and-family-docusoaps.yr-2019-2026", "label": "Premiered 2019 to 2026", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps.celebrity-and-family-docusoaps.yr-2019-2026" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "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" } ] } ], "excerpt": "RAF 03, the third Real American Freestyle event, held November 29, 2025 at Wintrust Arena, Chicago; Michael Chandler beat Chad Mendes, Jordan Oliver and Kennedy Blades won titles, and it was RAF's first sportsbook-betting event.", "snippet": "RAF 03, the third Real American Freestyle event, held November 29, 2025 at Wintrust Arena, Chicago; Michael Chandler beat Chad Mendes, Jordan Oliver and Kennedy Blades won titles, and it was RAF's first sportsbook-betting event.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted.celebrity-lifestyle-court-reality.lifestyle-dating-and-docusoaps.celebrity-and-family-docusoaps.yr-2019-2026", "markdown": "# RAF 03\n\n**RAF 03** was the third event held by [Real American Freestyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-american-freestyle) (RAF), an unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league, staged on November 29, 2025 at [Wintrust Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/wintrust-arena) in Chicago, Illinois and headlined by a 175-pound bout between former UFC fighters [Michael Chandler](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-chandler) and Chad Mendes[1](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/) • [2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/). The ten-bout card carried two championship matches, produced the promotion's first title change, and was the first RAF event with matches available through major sportsbooks[3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Date and venue | November 29, 2025, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois[1](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/) |\n| Main event | Michael Chandler defeated Chad Mendes by decision at 175 pounds, then called out Jordan Burroughs[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/) |\n| New champions | Jordan Oliver (featherweight, RAF's first title change) and Kennedy Blades (women's featherweight, 11-0 technical fall)[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/) |\n| Upset of the night | Ukraine's Andriy Yatsenko pinned 2024 Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee in the closing moments of their bantamweight bout[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/) |\n| Betting milestone | First RAF event with matches available through major sportsbooks, under a partnership with ALT Sports Data announced in early November 2025[3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/) |\n| Attendance | Over 5,000 spectators[4](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/two-new-champions-crowned-in-surprising-raf-03-card-r100667/) |\n| Broadcast | Streamed live on Fox Nation; produced by Eric Bischoff with David Sahadi as director[5](https://rajah.com/node/ufc-legend-takes-shot-bill-goldberg-ahead-special-appearance-tonight) |\n\n## Background\n\nReal American Freestyle launched in 2025 as a professional freestyle wrestling league featuring unscripted, Olympic-style bouts rather than scripted sports entertainment. Its first event, [RAF 01](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-01), took place August 29, 2025 in Cleveland, followed by [RAF 02](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-02) on October 25, 2025 at Penn State University[1](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/). A press-conference episode for the third event, featuring Olympic medalists, All-Americans, and MMA stars, aired on Fox on November 28, 2025, the day before the show[6](https://www.fox.com/watch/episode/fmc-uqef6rg95y1dltn0/raf-03-press-conference-with-world-champions).\n\nRAF 03 was positioned as the promotion's biggest event to that point. WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg was confirmed in attendance, and [Chael Sonnen](https://www.edgepedia.org/chael-sonnen), a UFC veteran working with RAF, marked the occasion on social media[5](https://rajah.com/node/ufc-legend-takes-shot-bill-goldberg-ahead-special-appearance-tonight).\n\n## Main event: Chandler vs. Mendes\n\nMichael Chandler and [Chad Mendes](https://www.edgepedia.org/chad-mendes), both established MMA names, had never faced each other in any format before the bout at 175 pounds. Chandler controlled the pace in a tactical match and won by decision, then called out six-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist [Jordan Burroughs](https://www.edgepedia.org/jordan-burroughs) in his post-match interview[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/).\n\nThe exact score is reported differently by sources covering the event: Rafinsider's recap gives a 4-2 decision[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/), while The Boise Beat and Rafinsider's own event page give 4-1[7](https://theboisebeat.com/index.php/2025/12/04/raf-03-chicago-results-full-wrestling-recap/) • [3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/).\n\n## Championship matches\n\n**Featherweight title change.** [Real Woods](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-woods), the 2025 world bronze medalist, led Jordan Oliver 2-1 late in the bout. Oliver pushed Woods toward the edge in the closing seconds, and the call went to the challenger; Woods disputed whether he had been grounded, but the call stood. Oliver won 2-2 on the last-point criteria, giving RAF its first championship change[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/).\n\n**Women's featherweight.** [Kennedy Blades](https://www.edgepedia.org/kennedy-blades), the 2024 Olympic silver medalist and 2025 world bronze medalist, made her RAF debut and won the Women's Featherweight Championship with an 11-0 technical fall over Mexico's Alejandra Rivera, ending the match in the second period on five takedowns[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/). Rivera had beaten Alexis Gomez two weeks earlier[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/).\n\n## Other results\n\nThe undercard produced two pins and two lopsided technical falls[3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/) • [7](https://theboisebeat.com/index.php/2025/12/04/raf-03-chicago-results-full-wrestling-recap/):\n\n- **Bantamweight:** Andriy Yatsenko (Ukraine) pinned 2024 Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee in the closing moments, described as one of the biggest upsets in RAF's first season[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/).\n- **Heavyweight:** [Akhmed Tazhudinov](https://www.edgepedia.org/akhmed-tazhudinov), representing Bahrain, pinned former NCAA heavyweight champion Anthony Cassioppi with sustained top pressure[3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/).\n- **Light heavyweight:** Pat Downey scored a 12-0 technical fall over UFC fighter [Joaquin Buckley](https://www.edgepedia.org/joaquin-buckley)[7](https://theboisebeat.com/index.php/2025/12/04/raf-03-chicago-results-full-wrestling-recap/).\n- **Catchweight:** Cayden Henschel shut out MMA veteran [Clay Guida](https://www.edgepedia.org/clay-guida), 11-0[7](https://theboisebeat.com/index.php/2025/12/04/raf-03-chicago-results-full-wrestling-recap/).\n- **Lightweight:** Austin Gomez, a local Chicago-area favorite, beat former two-time national champion Austin O'Connor 9-1[4](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/two-new-champions-crowned-in-surprising-raf-03-card-r100667/).\n- **Featherweight:** Bo Bassett, a high school wrestler and Virginia Tech prospect, pinned MMA veteran Darrion Caldwell. Bassett was the youngest competitor in RAF history and, per Rafinsider, the first active high schooler to compete in the promotion[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/) • [3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/).\n- **Women's division:** Alexis Gomez defeated Bella Mir by decision, avenging a technical-fall loss to Mir from two weeks earlier[4](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/two-new-champions-crowned-in-surprising-raf-03-card-r100667/).\n\n## Betting milestone\n\nA partnership with ALT Sports Data, announced in early November 2025, made RAF 03 the first RAF event with matches available through major sportsbooks, bringing regulated betting to Olympic-style wrestling for the first time under the promotion[3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/) • [8](https://athelogroup.com/blog/real-american-freestyle-creates-new-path/).\n\n## Aftermath\n\nRAF 03 established recurring storylines for the young promotion: Oliver and Woods now had a rivalry spanning two events, Chandler's Burroughs callout generated headlines beyond wrestling media, and Bassett's debut gave the league a young prospect to build around[3](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/). The next event, [RAF 04](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-04), followed on December 20, 2025 at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana[2](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/). Blades continued her RAF run after Chicago, winning her next two appearances by technical fall as well[9](https://rafinsider.com/kennedy-blades-isnt-leading-the-raf-takedown-race-shes-lapping-it/).\n\n## References\n\n1. [Events, Real American Freestyle official site](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/)\n2. [RAF 03 Recap: Chandler Beats Mendes, Oliver Upsets Woods, Rafinsider](https://rafinsider.com/raf-03-recap-chicago-goes-wild-and-real-american-freestyle-finds-its-identity/)\n3. [RAF 03 Results: Chandler vs Mendes, Chicago Highlights, Rafinsider](https://rafinsider.com/events/raf03/)\n4. [Two New Champions Crowned in Surprising RAF 03 Card, InterMat](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/two-new-champions-crowned-in-surprising-raf-03-card-r100667/)\n5. [UFC Legend Takes Shot At Bill Goldberg Ahead Of Special Appearance Tonight, Rajah.com](https://rajah.com/node/ufc-legend-takes-shot-bill-goldberg-ahead-special-appearance-tonight)\n6. [Real American Freestyle - RAF 03 Press Conference with World Champions, FOX](https://www.fox.com/watch/episode/fmc-uqef6rg95y1dltn0/raf-03-press-conference-with-world-champions)\n7. [RAF 03: The Night Witnessed Wrestling's New Era Rise, The Boise Beat](https://theboisebeat.com/index.php/2025/12/04/raf-03-chicago-results-full-wrestling-recap/)\n8. [Real American Freestyle Creates New Path for College Athletes, Athelo Group](https://athelogroup.com/blog/real-american-freestyle-creates-new-path/)\n9. [Kennedy Blades Is Lapping the RAF Takedown Field, Rafinsider](https://rafinsider.com/kennedy-blades-isnt-leading-the-raf-takedown-race-shes-lapping-it/)\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 › Celebrity, family, lifestyle, and court reality series › Lifestyle, dating, and docusoaps › Celebrity and family docusoaps › Premiered 2019 to 2026*\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-03", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03.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 03\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[RAF 03](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"RAF 03\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-03. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "RAF 03, the third Real American Freestyle event, held November 29, 2025 at Wintrust Arena, Chicago; Michael Chandler beat Chad Mendes, Jordan Oliver and Kennedy Blades won titles, and it was RAF's first sportsbook-betting event." }