World Medalists Green and Salkazanov to Clash on RAF 02 Card

RAF 02 just got a lot tougher after the latest match announcement. Two-time world medalist James Green will face four-time world medalist Tajmuraz Salkazanov of Slovakia in the welterweight division (165 lbs).

At one point, Green was rumored to be on the first Real American Freestyle card, but that was incorrect and he’ll make his debut on October 25th.

Green is a seven-time world team member. Each time came at 70 kg. For Olympic purposes, Green has tried to make the squad at 65 kg, but has been most effective up in weight. In his first world team appearance, Green earned a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas. Two years later, he made the world finals and earned a silver medal in Paris, France. Green’s most recent world team appearance came in 2024. This was after he retired because of health concerns.

Salkazanov is a Russian who wrestles for Slovakia. His first world medal came in 2019 when he was a bronze medalist at 79 kg. In 2021 and 2022, Salkazanov made the world finals but was denied a gold medal by Kyle Dake. He is coming to RAF fresh off a bronze medal showing at the 2025 World Championships.

In Zagreb, Salkazanov fell to the eventual champion, Kota Takahashi (Japan), 6-4 in the semifinals, before defeating Iran’s Yones Emami, 3-1, for a bronze medal. Earlier this year, Salkazanov fell to David Carr on criteria at the Hungarian Ranking Series event.

Of the matches featuring an international opponent, Salkazanov is the most decorated thus far and should have a size advantage on Green, making it one of the most intriguing bouts released by RAF.

RAF 02 will take place on October 25th at Penn State University’s Bryce Jordan Center. The matches released by RAF thus far include:

Welterweight (165 lbs) - James Green vs. Tajmuraz Salkazanov

Welterweight (165 lbs) - David Carr vs. Amr Reda

Cruiserweight (190 lbs) - Kyle Dake (champ) vs. Boris Makoev

Women’s Flyweight (120 lbs) - Helen Maroulis vs. Samantha Stewart

Open - Keelon Jimison vs. Cayden Henschel

Heavyweight (Unlimited) - Patrick Downey III vs. Jake Varner

Bantamweight (135 lbs) - Nathan Tomasello (champ) vs. Roman Bravo-Young

Heavyweight (Unlimited) - Mason Parris vs. Aleksandr Romanov