Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold to wrestle current contender Joe Pyfer at RAF 13 in Miami
Luke Rockhold is back in action against a current UFC middleweight contender in Joe Pyfer, as they'll clash at RAF 13 in Miami.
Luke Rockhold is all set to return to freestyle wrestling competition, as he's scheduled to clash against UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer under the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling promotional banner.
Their catchweight freestyle wrestling match would go down at RAF 13 at the Watsco Center in Miami, Florida, on September 19.
It'll mark the second RAF appearance for Rockhold, who is himself no stranger to the UFC middleweight division. The California-born combatant once held the UFC middleweight title and was counted among the very best fighters in the consensus premier mixed martial arts organization.
The Luke Rockhold vs. Joe Pyfer match features on a card headlined by the UFC champion's previous opponent, Colby Covington
Luke Rockhold's most recent professional MMA fight witnessed him suffer a unanimous decision defeat in a grueling showdown against one-time UFC middleweight championship challenger Paulo Costa back in 2022.
He departed the UFC thereafter and debuted in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing, facing fellow UFC veteran "Platinum" Mike Perry in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) organization in 2023. Rockhold ended up losing via second-round TKO at the hands of Perry, who eventually cemented himself as one of the biggest stars in ungloved boxing and a BKFC icon.
Rockhold later took his talents to Karate Combat -- the professional full-contact karate promotion -- which saw him face kickboxing and Muay Thai veteran Joe Schilling in 2024. He notched a spectacular third-round TKO victory against Schilling.
Well, Rockhold followed it up by making his professional boxing debut against ex-UFC middleweight and current BKFC star Darren Till last year. Their Misfits boxing bridgerweight title fight ended in a decisive fashion, as Till stopped him via third-round KO.
The 41-year-old didn't let the setbacks deter him, however, and continued his combat sports journey. Rockhold debuted in freestyle wrestling in the RAF. The striking and grappling savant faced ex-interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington in the headlining match of RAF 05 back in January.
The NCAA Division I All-American defeated Rockhold by way of technical fall (12-0) in the second period. Incidentally, Rockhold's upcoming match against Joe Pyfer would transpire at RAF 13, which will be headlined by Covington.
The inaugural and reigning RAF cruiserweight crossover champion, Covington will face ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in a highly anticipated grudge match with his title at stake. Additionally, RAF heavyweight champion Wyatt Hendrickson would put his title on the line against Greg Kerkvliet.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold takes on MMA standout Joe Pyfer SEP 19 in Miami at #RAF13
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) August 9, 2026
Tickets in bio. Watch on @foxnation pic.twitter.com/VCtb2tH32z
Luke Rockhold's RAF 13 opponent Joe Pyfer is closing in on a UFC middleweight title shot
Luke Rockhold's RAF 13 opponent is, as of this time, considered to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC's middleweight division. Pyfer is ranked No. 4 in the 185-pound weight class on the official Meta UFC rankings.
Meanwhile, Nassourdine Imavov stands at No. 3, whereas former UFC middleweight champions Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev hold the No. 2 and No. 1 spots, respectively.
The belief is that reigning UFC middleweight titlist Sean Strickland could defend his title in a rematch against Chimaev this December. That said, Pyfer is said to be nearing his maiden UFC title shot soon. The American knockout artist is on a four-fight win streak, having last beaten ex-UFC middleweight kingpin and combat sports superstar Israel Adesanya earlier this year.
"Bodybagz" was to fight Caio Borralho at UFC 330 on August 15, but Borralho was sidelined due to a rib injury. As such, Pyfer seems to be keen on testing himself in freestyle wrestling -- while he awaits his next MMA matchup in the UFC -- and has chosen to wrestle against Luke Rockhold at RAF 13.
