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RAF 10: Chimaev, Tsarukyan, and Ferguson Lead Freestyle Showcase in St. Louis

  • Writer: Abdul-Ahad Patel
    Abdul-Ahad Patel
  • Jun 12
  • 2 min read

Real American Freestyle 10 takes place on Saturday, 13th June 2026, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, with a card built around major name value, elite wrestling credentials, and championship stakes. The is headlined by Khamzat Chimaev’s promotional debut against Dillon Danis in a catchweight main event.


Main Event

Khamzat Chimaev’s arrival is the biggest draw on the card. He brings star power, elite combat sports experience, and a reputation for suffocating pressure that should translate well to freestyle wrestling.


Dillon Danis provides the kind of opponent that makes the matchup easy to market. His name recognition and grappling background give the bout immediate intrigue, even if Chimaev enters as the clear centerpiece.


The main event is less about a traditional rivalry and more about who can impose their style on the mat. If Chimaev dictates positions early, he should control the narrative; if Danis finds ways to create scrambles, the bout could become more competitive than expected.


Co-Main Event

The co-main event features Arman Tsarukyan against Tony Ferguson at middleweight. Tsarukyan enters as one of the promotion’s major figures, while Ferguson’s return to competitive wrestling adds a compelling twist to a career already full of reinvention.


Ferguson remains one of the most recognizable names on the card, and this matchup gives him a chance to test his wrestling instincts against a high-level opponent. Tsarukyan, meanwhile, has the chance to reinforce his status as a top attraction in the organization.


Championship Matches

RAF 10 also includes two title fights, giving the event a stronger competitive spine. Lucia Yepez meets Kendra Ryan for the interim women’s strawweight championship, while Austin DeSanto faces Reineri Ortega for the bantamweight title.


Those bouts matter because they broaden the card beyond the celebrity matches at the top. A strong title fight can give a wrestling event more legitimacy, especially when it features athletes with real competitive stakes.


Featured Bouts

The lightweight bout between Lance Palmer and Aaron Pico stands out as one of the most interesting undercard matchups. Both men bring serious wrestling and combat sports backgrounds, which should make for a technically sharp contest.


Other notable pairings include Hayden Zillmer vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan, Sebastian Rivera vs. Haji Aliyev, Tajmuraz Salkazanov vs. Keegan O’Toole, and Andrew Alirez vs. Jaydin Eierman. That lineup gives the card a deep credentialed feel and helps it function as a true freestyle showcase.


What To Watch

The biggest question is how quickly Chimaev adapts to the freestyle setting and whether Danis can force him into extended exchanges. In a discipline like this, control and pace matter as much as raw star power.


Tsarukyan versus Ferguson is also a must-watch because it blends current elite standing with legacy appeal. If Ferguson can show flashes of his wrestling pedigree, that bout may become one of the night’s most talked-about contests.


Final Outlook

RAF 10 has the structure of a landmark wrestling event, led by major crossover names and supported by legitimate title bouts. Chimaev, Tsarukyan, and Ferguson give the card headline visibility, while the deeper matchups provide technical weight.


If the top bouts deliver, this could be the kind of event that raises Real American Freestyle’s profile well beyond its core audience. St. Louis should get a packed, high-interest night built around some of the most recognizable names in combat sports wrestling.

 
 
 

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