Real American Freestyle is preparing for its fifth event with a lineup that blends established mixed martial arts contenders and decorated wrestlers. RAF 5 is scheduled for January 10 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise Florida and will stream exclusively on FOX Nation.
Two matchups in particular have drawn attention. One features UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan stepping into a new competitive setting. The other brings together Yoel Romero and Bo Nickal after their previously planned meeting was postponed.
Arman Tsarukyan enters RAF competition
Arman Tsarukyan continues to stay active while waiting for his next UFC booking. At RAF 5, he is set to compete against Lance Palmer, a former PFL standout with extensive wrestling credentials.
This will be Tsarukyan’s first appearance under the Real American Freestyle banner. His 2025 schedule has already included several high-level performances. After an injury forced him out of a planned UFC lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan returned later in the year and defeated Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar. Alongside his MMA work, he has competed frequently in grappling events, earning wins over Benson Henderson, Patricky Pitbull, and Makkasharip Zaynukov, and capturing a title with ACCBJJ.
Although his next UFC bout has not yet been announced, Tsarukyan has already committed to competition in early 2026, signaling that he intends to remain active across multiple formats.
Lance Palmer brings a résumé that spans professional fighting and elite amateur wrestling. He is a two-time PFL tournament winner at featherweight and previously held the WSOF title in the same division. Before his MMA career, Palmer was a standout at Ohio State University, earning four NCAA Division I All-American honors.
Palmer has already competed once for Real American Freestyle. At the promotion’s debut show in August, he dropped a decision to Austin Gomez and now looks to rebound against one of the UFC’s top lightweight contenders.
STILL ADDING HEAT🔥
Lance Palmer vs Arman Tsarukyan at RAF05.
Get your tickets at the link in our bio or watch exclusively on @foxnation pic.twitter.com/kn4eOSyCLU
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) December 22, 2025
Yoel Romero vs Bo Nickal rescheduled
RAF 5 will also feature the return of a highly anticipated wrestling matchup between Yoel Romero and Bo Nickal. The bout was originally scheduled for an earlier event but was removed after Nickal was pulled for undisclosed reasons.
The rematch announcement came shortly after Romero recorded a dominant technical fall victory over Pat Downey at RAF 4. With that win, promotion officials confirmed that Romero and Nickal would meet at the January show.
Romero enters the contest during a particularly busy stretch. In addition to his RAF appearance, he is booked to headline BKFC KnuckleMania 6 in February against Lorenzo Hunt, setting up an active start to the year.
Nickal, a three-time NCAA national champion from Penn State, is returning to wrestling competition after focusing on MMA. Since transitioning to fighting, he has compiled an 8 and 1 professional record, including five wins inside the UFC, and most recently earned a knockout victory at UFC 322.
Beyond the Tsarukyan and Romero matchups, RAF 5 is headlined by a bout between Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold. The card reflects the promotion’s focus on crossover appeal, bringing together athletes from wrestling, MMA, and other combat disciplines on one stage.
