SHAWNEE, Okla — Legacy Fighting Alliance delivered a dramatic evening of fights at LFA 230but the event will be remembered for more than just the action in the cage.
The card took place at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma temporarily suspended for two hours due to a tornado warning in the area. Once the action resumed, fans were treated to a thunderous conclusion to the main event.
Charlie Cleveland knocks out Nyle Bartling
In the heavyweight main event, perilous challenger Charlie Cleveland wasted no time in making a statement against rising prospect Nyle Bartling.
Cleveland came out aggressive and overwhelmed Bartling with a flurry of punches early in the opening round. The pressure quickly paid off as Cleveland landed a decisive combination that forced the referee to stop the fight.
The break has come 3:09 into the first roundwhich gave Cleveland the victory in the most crucial moments and improved his career record 6-1.
The explosive finish capped off a night that was already filled with anticipation after the weather delay.
David Wright scores by forfeit in the co-main event
In the co-main event, veteran David Wright made a successful return to LFA competition.
Wright controlled the grappling exchanges against John Moore before securing the victory rear naked submission in the first round, 4:43scoring an impressive victory in their airy heavyweight bout.
Jake Woodley wins in front of his home crowd
Before a tornado warning forced the event to be cut miniature, local favorite Jake Woodley put on a solid performance against Shane Sobnosky Jr.
Woodley controlled the fight for three rounds to earn the A victory by unanimous decisionand the judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-26 and 30-24.
LFA returns with LFA 231 in Minnesota
After LFA 230, the promotion will take a miniature break before returning on April 17 with LFA 231: Trembley vs. Johns.
The event will take place at the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and will feature a key featherweight main event between former champion Elijah Johns (10-3) and undefeated Taner Trembley (6-0).
The event will be broadcast live in the United States on VICE TV at 21:00 ET / 18:00 PT.
Main Card
Heavyweight main event
Charlie Cleveland def. Nyle Bartling via KO/TKO (round 1, 3:09)
Featherlight heavyweight
David Wright def. John Moore via submission (rear-naked choke, round 1, 4:43)
Featherlight heavyweight
Jake Woodley def. Shane Sobnosky Jr. by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-24)
Featherweight
Elias Rodriguez def. Nick Fields by KO/TKO (punches, round 1, 0:36)
Fishing weight (195 lbs)
Finn Martin def. Chris Conners by KO/TKO (Mount punches, round 1, 3:41)
Introductory card
Welterweight
Austin Miller def. Ethan Moore by KO/TKO (elbow strikes, round 2, 3:24)
Fishing weight (138 lbs)
Nick O’Brien def. Jose Intriago via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight
Malik Thompson did it. Alpha Yero Mansare by KO/TKO (Mount elbows, round 3, 3:18)
Bantamweight
Jason Eubanks def. Gage Nolan via submission (knee lock, round 1, 2:48)
Colby
Covington believes Gable
Steveson needs to make changes after suffering his first defeat
in mixed martial arts.
The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim titleholder singled out
Steveson training under Jon Jones as
one of the changes the Olympian needs to make following his
12-second knockout loss to heavy underdog Sean Sharaf
at UFC
331.
Covington says Steveson should find a new camp and return to
his Olympic wrestling roots
In an interview with Submission Radio, “Chaos†said Steveson has
moved too far away from the wrestling that made him an Olympic
champion, arguing that the heavyweight should return to his roots
rather than focusing on his striking.
“I definitely saw this coming,†Covington told Submission Radio.
“You know, he was over-hyping himself, overlooking other
competitors and he just thought he was invincible. You don’t see
him try to wrestle in any fights; he’s just going straight into
striking. But when you forget about what got you to the dance,
that’s always going to be a recipe for disaster.â€
Covington then suggested that Steveson needs to leave Jones, his
Iowa Central Community College roommate, and train elsewhere.
“Jon Jones is bad energy,†Covington said. “That guy is a demon,
man. So, he should definitely cut Jon Jones, and get to a new camp,
get focused and start believing and start using his wrestling, what
got you to the dance.â€
Real American Freestyle has signed a five-year partnership with the
Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling
Federation, with the agreement beginning Nov. 14 at Etihad
Arena.
Khamzat
Chimaev will headline RAF's debut event in the Middle East,
with his opponent to be announced in the coming weeks. Arman
Tsarukyan, Henry
Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev
are also set to compete, with their matchups still to be
revealed.
Real American Freestyle signs five-year partnership with Abu
Dhabi
Chimaev has become one of RAF's crossover attractions since joining
the promotion. The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder made
his RAF debut against Dillon
Danis before facing Tyron
Woodley in Moscow and Gilbert
Burns at RAF 13.
The Abu Dhabi event marks RAF's third international show in its
first year, following events in Tbilisi and Moscow. The new
partnership will establish Abu Dhabi as a recurring stop on the
promotion's international calendar.
“From day one, our ambition has been to bring RAF to the world's
great sports markets, and there is no better place for this next
chapter than Abu Dhabi,†RAF CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein
said. “Abu Dhabi is one of the premier destinations for combat
sports, with the vision and infrastructure to deliver events that
resonate globally. This five-year partnership gives us the
opportunity to make RAF Abu Dhabi a signature event and build
something meaningful for athletes, fans and the region for years to
come.â€
The Nov. 14 card will feature a mixture of Olympic champions, world
champions, NCAA standouts, and crossover athletes from wrestling
and mixed martial arts, with additional matchups and event details
to be announced soon.
RAF IS COMING TO ABU DHABI. 🇦🇪@KChimaev
headlines our UAE debut on November 14 at Etihad Arena.
More of the biggest names in wrestling and combat sports to be
announced.
Khamzat's opponent coming soon.
RAF ABU DHABI. NOV 14.
Register your interest at link in bio. pic.twitter.com/lDN1rX0zbg
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA)
September 21, 2026
Shavkat
Rakhmonov's recovery and rehabilitation from multiple leg
injuries is seemingly moving in the right direction.
The undefeated welterweight recently shared footage on his
Instagram stories, in which he's seen doing some light wrestling
work. Rakhmonov hasn't competed since December 2024, with multiple
injury setbacks preventing a return to competition. However, the
recent video he and his coach shared online could be a sign of good
things to come.
Shavkat Rakhmonov continues recovery after calling for Islam
Makhachev matchup
Rakhmonov (19-0) was working on his clinch work in the video shared
on Instagram. He appears to be in good spirits and, notably, didn't
have a protective boot on his leg as he did in a recent
interview.
While speaking to AFL Global in an interview posted on Sept. 6, the
Kazakh was wearing a full protective boot. He's now boot-free and
gunning for an Octagon return, evidenced by his comments in said
interview, wherein he said he matches up well with current
welterweight champ Islam
Makhachev.
Rakhmonov expressed frustration after Makhachev did not mention him
among the leading 170-pound contenders, prompting the latter to
respond that he would consider the matchup once “Nomad†has
recovered and returned to action in the UFC.
“Well, Rakhmonov gave an interview recently with a huge brace on
his knee and he says he wants to fight,†Makhachev said during a
media scrum. “Choose him and wait for 1.5 years? Let him recover
and he will become one of the contenders.â€
😅🇰🇿 Islam
Makhachev responds to Shavkat
Rakhmonov who wasn’t happy with him not being mentioned as the
next contender:
“He gave an interview with a huge brace on his knee. He wants me to
choose him and then wait for 1.5 years for him to recover?”
🎥 MATCH TV pic.twitter.com/u5ayP5D7zz
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
September 9, 2026
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