Real American Freestyle (RAF) is officially bringing its high-stakes brand of professional wrestling and combat sports to commercial venues across the United States. Through a newly minted commercial-distribution partnership with Joe Hand Promotions, participating bars, restaurants, and casinos will now have the opportunity to showcase RAF’s complete schedule of live events through a monthly subscription model.
The landmark agreement opens a fresh chapter for the fast-growing organization, bridging the gap between home-viewing platforms and the communal, high-energy atmosphere of public sports establishments. The rollout kicks off in grand fashion with RAF 14: Tsarukyan vs. Danis, a blockbuster event scheduled for Friday, October 23, broadcasting live from the luxurious Fontainebleau Las Vegas starting at 9 p.m. ET.
Joe Hand Promotions stands as one of the country’s most trusted and established distributors of premium live sporting events to commercial venues. Over decades of operation, the company’s extensive portfolio has successfully delivered championship boxing, mixed martial arts, professional wrestling, and other top-tier sports programming to packed houses nationwide. This new alliance with RAF adds a unique and rapidly expanding property to their already impressive catalog.
Joe Hand Jr., President of Joe Hand Promotions, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and the distinct appeal that RAF brings to commercial venue operators. "We are proud to always present new, exciting products to our customers, and RAF checks both of those boxes," Hand stated. He emphasized that the organization delivers authentic athletic competition with genuine stakes, backed by a talent roster that includes elite Olympic champions and some of the most recognizable names in the world of mixed martial arts.
For RAF, the partnership marks a crucial step in expanding its footprint far beyond its existing home on Fox Nation. By entering the commercial market, bars, restaurants, and casinos can now seamlessly integrate the organization’s live cards into their regular sports-programming schedules. This allows venue operators to curate vibrant watch parties and social viewing experiences tailored specifically for dedicated wrestling and combat-sports enthusiasts who enjoy gathering to watch premium athletic showcases.
Chad Bronstein, CEO and co-founder of RAF, highlighted the vision behind the widespread distribution deal. "From the beginning, we’ve wanted RAF to reach as many fans as possible," Bronstein said. Reflecting on the journey of the organization, he noted the strong foundation built with fans and the valuable partnership established with Fox Nation. "Now, with Joe Hand Promotions, fans will be able to get together at their favorite bars and restaurants to watch some of the best athletes in the world compete."
RAF has carved out a distinct niche in the combat-sports landscape by merging professional freestyle wrestling with a dynamic presentation tailored directly to contemporary MMA, wrestling, and broader combat-sports demographics. The organization’s roster reads as a who’s who of elite grappling talent, featuring a heavy concentration of Olympic, World, and NCAA champions alongside accomplished mixed martial artists.
Standard events are structured to run between three and four hours, typically featuring a stacked lineup of approximately 12 highly competitive matches culminating in a high-profile championship main event. This consistent and reliable recurring schedule provides commercial venues with a dependable framework to build regular, recurring viewing events around the promotion, helping businesses drive traffic and engage crowds on fight nights.
Market analysis by the promotion has identified several strong regional strongholds across the United States. Among the top markets for RAF interest are major metropolitan areas and sports-centric cities including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Tampa, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee.
The promotion has steadily built momentum through major live gates and high-profile regional stops. Notable recent milestones include a major event held at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center in October 2025, followed by a successful visit to Philadelphia’s Liacouras Center in April 2026. Alongside its domestic growth, RAF has pursued international expansion, steadily establishing a fresh, contemporary platform for the evolution of professional freestyle wrestling.
Tsarukyan and Danis Headline RAF 14
The newly launched commercial-distribution agreement officially gets underway with a powerhouse card in Las Vegas that brings together elite competitors from across multiple combat disciplines. The event is anchored by a high-stakes main event and supported by a deep lineup of championship bouts and cross-disciplinary showdowns.
In the main event, top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will step into the ring to face accomplished grappler and MMA veteran Dillon Danis. The bout is set for the middleweight crossover championship, drawing intense interest from fans eager to see how the two explosive athletes match up under RAF rules.
The co-main event offers another must-see clash between MMA royalty, pitting reigning UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev against former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. The pairing of Chimaev’s relentless pressure against Lawler’s legendary toughness promises a memorable war.
The card also highlights the pure wrestling pedigree of the promotion, featuring legendary Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs. Burroughs is set to step into competition against Mikey Caliendo in a compelling middleweight contest.
Overall, the fight card boasts three distinct championship matches. Alongside the Tsarukyan-Danis headliner, strawweight champion Lucía Yépez will put her title on the line in a high-stakes defense against Olympic champion Sarah Hildebrandt. Additionally, Jordan Oliver will square off against Ridge Lovett in a battle for the lightweight championship.
Further bolstering the lineup, the event features several other compelling matchups across weight classes. Sebastian Rivera will lock horns with Vito Arujau in the featherweight division, while Yonger Bastida meets Zach Elam in a powerful heavyweight collision. Rounding out the featured action, Brendan Allen is set to take on Alexander Shlemenko in a high-profile cruiserweight crossover match.
Commercial establishments, including bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues interested in acquiring access to broadcast RAF 14 and the organization’s complete ongoing schedule of live events, can secure their subscriptions directly through Joe Hand Promotions.
Featured RAF 14 Matchups
Middleweight Crossover Championship: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dillon Danis
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robbie Lawler
Strawweight Championship: Lucía Yépez vs. Sarah Hildebrandt
Lightweight Championship: Jordan Oliver vs. Ridge Lovett
Middleweight: Jordan Burroughs vs. Mikey Caliendo
Featherweight: Sebastian Rivera vs. Vito Arujau
Heavyweight: Yonger Bastida vs. Zach Elam
Cruiserweight Crossover: Brendan Allen vs. Alexander Shlemenko
