Cowboy Rides Again: Cerrone to Face Pettis in Wrestling Trilogy at RAF 15

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is coming back — on the wrestling mat. The UFC Hall of Famer, 43, will face former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 15 on November 28 in Chicago, Real American Freestyle announced Wednesday. It will be the third meeting between the two UFC veterans, but the first outside the Octagon: Pettis knocked out Cerrone in January 2013 and beat him again by unanimous decision at UFC 249 in 2020. This time they will settle it at cruiserweight under wrestling rules at NOW Arena, with both men making their RAF debuts. Cerrone retired from MMA in 2022 after a submission loss to Jim Miller, ending a 38-fight UFC career. Pettis has not fought MMA since 2022 either, keeping busy with boxing and Karate Combat. RAF, launched in 2025, has built its brand on MMA crossover stars, with Khamzat Chimaev, Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington already headlining events — and now "Cowboy" and "Showtime" get their trilogy.