Luke Rockhold to face Joe Pyfer in wrestling match at RAF 13

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will face rising UFC contender Joe Pyfer in a catchweight wrestling match at Real American Freestyle 13 on September 19 at Watsco Center in Miami. The bout marks Rockhold's second appearance under the RAF banner following a January loss to Colby Covington.

Pyfer, 29, has established himself as one of the UFC's most promising middleweight contenders since joining the promotion in 2022. The Dana White's Contender Series signee owns a 7-1 UFC record with four consecutive victories, highlighted by a recent finish of former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

Rockhold, 41, brings extensive combat sports experience despite leaving the UFC in 2022. Since his departure, the former champion has competed across multiple disciplines including bare-knuckle boxing, karate, jiu jitsu, and traditional boxing. While neither fighter is primarily a wrestler, both bring considerable grappling credentials and overall combat sports expertise into the matchup.

Rockhold will be seeking his first win under the RAF banner, while Pyfer looks to continue his momentum in the wrestling format.