Armenian Wrestlers Could Strengthen Real American Freestyle: Andonyan and Harutyunyan in Talks

Promising American wrestler of Armenian descent Bryce Andonyan (74 kg) may continue his career in the professional league Real American Freestyle (RAF). According to sources, negotiations between the parties are already underway, although there has been no official confirmation of a move yet.

RAF is actively expanding its roster following the recent signing of two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev. If a contract is finalized, Andonyan could become one of the promotion’s standout competitors, adding excitement and competition to his weight class. He could also become the second Armenian wrestler in the league alongside UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan, who has already competed in RAF events.

The potential reinforcements may not stop there. Rumors suggest that another representative of the Armenian freestyle wrestling school, Arsen Harutyunyan, is also discussing a possible move to Real American Freestyle. If both deals are completed, fans could witness a true “double strike” — two highly technical and decorated Armenian wrestlers competing within the same promotion.

Arsen Harutyunyan’s achievements include:

• 4-time European Champion (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)

• European Championship silver medalist (2025)

• 4-time World Championship bronze medalist (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)

• 2-time U23 World Champion (2021, 2022)

• U20 European Champion (2018)

Real American Freestyle is a relatively young American promotion positioning itself as a professional freestyle wrestling league with a show-oriented format similar to the UFC. In RAF, Olympic wrestlers and MMA stars compete on the mat in traditional wrestling bouts, with championship belts contested across multiple weight classes.

The most recent event, RAF 5, took place on January 10 in Florida and featured Arman Tsarukyan along with several other notable athletes. The next show, RAF 6, is scheduled for February 28 in Arizona. The card already includes major matchups such as Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber, Muhammad Mokaev vs. Bryce Meredith, and a bout between Olympic medalist Frank Chamizo and Keegan O’Toole.

If negotiations are successful, RAF could significantly strengthen its lineup, while the presence of multiple Armenian wrestlers would add even more global interest to the league’s events.