RAF 14 books Greg Kerkvliet vs Yonger Bastida
The heaviest bout yet on the Vegas card goes down October 23 at Fontainebleau on Fox Nation.
Real American Freestyle has booked NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet against two-time All-American Yonger Bastida at RAF 14. The promotion announced the matchup for October 23 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, with the card streaming on Fox Nation. It is the biggest body weight RAF has put on this show.
RAF billed it as a "HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN" in its announcement, with Bastida listed as a two-time All-American and Kerkvliet as an NCAA champ. Tickets are available through the link in the promotion's bio. No weight figure was given for the bout.
Where it fits on the card
October 23 in Las Vegas keeps filling out. RAF had already announced Vito Arujau's promotional debut against Sebastian Rivera for the same night, plus Ridge Lovett against Jordan Oliver and Arman Tsarukyan against Dillon Danis, as covered earlier. Kerkvliet and Bastida give the show a name pairing at the top end of the scale, where RAF had been leaning on lighter and middle weights.
Both men come straight out of recent college folkstyle, which is the pitch here. Kerkvliet owns an NCAA title. Bastida reached All-American status twice. RAF has made a habit of signing wrestlers fans watched win in March and putting them on a pro freestyle card months later, and this is the heaviest version of that play so far.
Our take: a true heavyweight bout is a different sell than a 65kg scramble fest, and RAF needed one on a card already stacked with lighter weights and a crossover attraction in Tsarukyan vs Danis.
What to watch
October 23 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, live on Fox Nation.
Whether RAF adds more weight to the back half of the card before the show.
2x All-American Yonger Bastida faces NCAA Champ Greg Kerkvliet at #RAF14 on OCT 23 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas