Jordan Burroughs is officially stepping into the Real American Freestyle spotlight, and his first opponent is a familiar name to UFC fans. The decorated wrestling icon is scheduled to face UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady in the main event of RAF 12 on Aug. 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Olympic wrestling legend enters RAF
Burroughs brings one of the most accomplished resumes in freestyle wrestling into his RAF debut. The 37-year-old captured Olympic gold at the 2012 Games in the 74-kilogram division and has won six world championships during his legendary career.
His list of achievements also includes two NCAA titles at the University of Nebraska and the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy. With those credentials, Burroughs has long been regarded as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers the sport has ever produced.
RAF 12 will mark his first appearance for the promotion, adding another high-profile name to its growing roster.
Sean Brady tests his wrestling against an all-time great
Brady enters the event while waiting for his next UFC booking. The 33-year-old is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley in May, further strengthening his position among the top contenders in the UFC welterweight division.
Although Brady has built his MMA success on elite grappling, his background differs significantly from Burroughs’. He did not compete in wrestling during high school or college, making this matchup a unique test against one of the sport’s most decorated competitors.
The bout headlines RAF 12 on Aug. 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, with the event set to stream on Fox Nation.