Steveson dominates Romanov by tech fall at RAF 9 and calls out two Olympians

Gable Steveson wasted little time announcing his return to the wrestling mats, stopping ex-UFC heavyweight Alexandr Romanov by technical superiority at RAF 9 on Saturday after racing to a 10-0 lead inside two periods.

It was Steveson’s first competitive match since a shock defeat at the 2025 NCAA championships, and the Olympic gold medalist showed no lingering effects. A quick go-behind put him on the board almost immediately, followed by a turn that pushed the score to four points within the opening minutes. A pushout added another before Romanov appeared to suffer a shoulder injury late in the first period — though the match continued. Steveson then closed things out swiftly in the second period with another go-behind and turn to reach the 10-point threshold and trigger the tech fall.

Speaking after the win, Steveson was direct about what he felt he had proved. “You questioned if I could still wrestle? You think Gable can’t wrestle?” he said. “Whoever wants it can get it. I came here to be a wrestler. I’m a wrestler at heart but I’m a fighter now.”

He also laid out a clear wish list for his next RAF appearances, targeting two of the sport’s biggest heavyweight names. “Next up I would like Abdulrashid Sadulaev,” Steveson said, “and there’s a guy from Iran named Amir Hossein Zare — he’s the best heavyweight right now. We’ll go for my third match. If you want it, I’m here.”

Steveson’s wrestling schedule will need to work around his MMA commitments, with his octagon debut set for UFC 329 in July. Beyond that, a potential tilt at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics adds another long-term dimension to what is shaping up to be an unusually crowded competitive calendar for the 24-year-old.