RAF 03

[Truzzcat]

Mendes vs Chandler: If this is drug tested it may be a toss up Mendes was the better wrestler but chandler is naturally bigger. If it is not drug tested and the Chad that showed up when he fought in bkfc gimme Chad all day.

Bassett vs Caldwell: o/u 90 seconds

Gomez vs AOC: Gomez can win world medals AOC has not wrestled a competitive match in 2+ years? I think AOC can come back and do very well but I do not think this is the spot.

Blades vs Rivera: Gimme Kennedy

Real vs JO: Love this match, I think Willie said it very well in a tournament setting I am not sure JO would fair super well anymore but in a one off match with 3 mini breaks I think he could do some damage. I also am not giving Real enough respect for medaling I think I just need to seem him win more consistently before I can go all in.

Bella Mir vs Alexis Gomez: I think this is a pretty handy one for Bella

Guida vs Henschel: I want Clay to win this one so bad perhaps he can use that old man strength to slow it down and tire cayden out.

PD3 vs Buckley: PD3 no doubt unless he gets spinning back kicked

Big Cass vs Taz: Kinda interesting match given the weight and Taz as of recent but I think Taz probably still dominates.

Spencer vs Yatsenko: Spencer td trap arm game I think he is going to come in with something to prove and Yatsenko has been pretty inactive. I also think the weight matters here Yatsenko is about as true of a 125 as they come.

I think this is a pretty fun card feels like a table setter for bigger matches in the future.

[Hammerlock3]

Isn't Cass still on his weight loss journey? I don't see any reason to think he doesn't get completely clowned.  

[Truzzcat]

20 minutes ago, Hammerlock3 said:

Isn't Cass still on his weight loss journey? I don't see any reason to think he doesn't get completely clowned.  

He was at 97 maybe even 92kg this is up at 125kg so maybe hes just jacked now. If he is not at least 245 its probably quick beat down but He does have 2 u23 medals at 125kg.

[Truzzcat]

Chael is going to be the saving grace for commentary it appears to be Kurt,Pena,A guy that color commentates mma for eagle fc and uncle chael. I did not enjoy Bubba,Kurt,Pena I muted it quite a few times so hopefully the additional of Chael helps. Willie + Chael + trent and mix in other signed wrestlers that are maybe not competing that card would be my ideal scenario.

[BAC]

I'm trying to get into these RAF cards, but can never seem to get there.  

Particularly in the men's bouts, almost everyone seems to be past their prime -- either retired or out of the sport for years.  I can count the number of active men's freestylers on the card on one hand, and none of them are wrestling each other. 

I get the appeal of putting big ex-MMA names in there, as I'm all for selling tickets to make the venture profitable. And I do like that they're pitting these many of guys against each other this time (Mendes/Chandler, Guida/Henschel), instead of having them get slaughtered by active freestylers.  But still, most of the active men's freestylers (Gomez, Lee, Taz, Bassett) are going to steamroll their guys.  Even the two women's matches seem like mismatches.

I'm guessing JO has enough left in the tank to avoid getting teched, and at least O'Connor and Cass are close enough in time to their competitive days that they might not embarrass themselves.  But I dunno man.  

[Hammerlock3]

1 hour ago, Truzzcat said:

He was at 97 maybe even 92kg this is up at 125kg so maybe hes just jacked now. If he is not at least 245 its probably quick beat down but He does have 2 u23 medals at 125kg.

I'm trying to think of an equally random sounding match up, Rei Higuchi vs.....Ethan Lizak!

[Tyler Perry]

8 minutes ago, Hammerlock3 said:

I'm trying to think of an equally random sounding match up, Rei Higuchi vs.....Ethan Lizak!

Let’s do a folkstyle match between them, but all 3 periods start with Lizak on top 

 

another random matchup; Tariq Wilson vs Jordan Oliver 

[Truzzcat]

29 minutes ago, Hammerlock3 said:

I'm trying to think of an equally random sounding match up, Rei Higuchi vs.....Ethan Lizak!

I think that is pretty spot on

[Truzzcat]

34 minutes ago, BAC said:

I'm trying to get into these RAF cards, but can never seem to get there.  

Particularly in the men's bouts, almost everyone seems to be past their prime -- either retired or out of the sport for years.  I can count the number of active men's freestylers on the card on one hand, and none of them are wrestling each other. 

I get the appeal of putting big ex-MMA names in there, as I'm all for selling tickets to make the venture profitable. And I do like that they're pitting these many of guys against each other this time (Mendes/Chandler, Guida/Henschel), instead of having them get slaughtered by active freestylers.  But still, most of the active men's freestylers (Gomez, Lee, Taz, Bassett) are going to steamroll their guys.  Even the two women's matches seem like mismatches.

I'm guessing JO has enough left in the tank to avoid getting teched, and at least O'Connor and Cass are close enough in time to their competitive days that they might not embarrass themselves.  But I dunno man.  

I could be way too optimistic but I think after this card we should be getting some more premier bouts. We could see the winner of mason vs wyatt and taz moving forward. Yianni gets the AOC vs gomez winner. Bo and Real could both have a win over Caldwell sorta makes sense to set that one up after. I think making the lightest weight 135 allows for some fun international matchups for spencer like maybe Rei vs spencer pt 2? If we do not start seeing these matchups in the next card or 2 I will probably start losing a bit of hope but that's the route I am imagining they are taking it. I could do with fewer mma vs current wrestler matches though I would say entirely without but I think the Belal carr match is actually good for wrestling as long as Carr goes out and absolutely dog walks him. I also would like to see some of the Russian mma guys compete.

[BAC]

3 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

I could be way too optimistic but I think after this card we should be getting some more premier bouts. We could see the winner of mason vs wyatt and taz moving forward. Yianni gets the AOC vs gomez winner. Bo and Real could both have a win over Caldwell sorta makes sense to set that one up after. I think making the lightest weight 135 allows for some fun international matchups for spencer like maybe Rei vs spencer pt 2? If we do not start seeing these matchups in the next card or 2 I will probably start losing a bit of hope but that's the route I am imagining they are taking it. I could do with fewer mma vs current wrestler matches though I would say entirely without but I think the Belal carr match is actually good for wrestling as long as Carr goes out and absolutely dog walks him. I also would like to see some of the Russian mma guys compete.

I welcome your optimism! To be fair, many of the matches are specifically tailored for local interest, lots of Illinois guys on this card for a Chicago event.  If I were an Illinois guy, I might well be salivating over an O'Connor-Gomez matchup.  

[Husker_Du]

22 hours ago, Hammerlock3 said:

Isn't Cass still on his weight loss journey? I don't see any reason to think he doesn't get completely clowned.  

he weighed in at 240. Taz weighed in at 223. fwiw

[Hammerlock3]

24 minutes ago, Husker_Du said:

he weighed in at 240. Taz weighed in at 223. fwiw

[Truzzcat]

starting now Bo vs Darian

[Truzzcat]

Pin by Bo I think about 50 seconds 

[Truzzcat]

Bo called out Conor, Sean, Khabib. Aside from that he speaks very well, I think this will be another good platform for him.

[GFPine]

Shocked, shocked I tell you!

[Hammerlock3]

3 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

Bo called out Conor, Sean, Khabib. Aside from that he speaks very well, I think this will be another good platform for him.

This is ironic right?

[Truzzcat]

Beating a dead horse here but Julianna pena needs replaced by someone who knows wrestling.

[Hammerlock3]

Bo is trying to parlay being one of the most privileged athletes on earth into becoming Jake Paul....

[Truzzcat]

1 minute ago, Hammerlock3 said:

This is ironic right?

The call outs or how he articulates himself? I think he actually speaks well and stays authentic to himself. Pretty easy for him to turn into a cornball heel if he wanted to I feel like but he came off as respectful. The call out was pretty silly though.

[Hammerlock3]

Just now, Truzzcat said:

The call outs or how he articulates himself? I think he actually speaks well and stays authentic to himself. Pretty easy for him to turn into a cornball heel if he wanted to I feel like but he came off as respectful. The call out was pretty silly though.

My take is he has turned cornball heel.

[Truzzcat]

good match Gomez was down 0-3 going into the third ended up winning 7-3.

Edited November 30, 2025 by Truzzcat

[Hammerlock3]

does this guy have any chance against downey

[Truzzcat]

1 minute ago, Hammerlock3 said:

does this guy have any chance against downey

I think he wrestled Juco? Absolutely not though.

[Hammerlock3]

slip?!?!??!