Aljamain Sterling jumps to RAF, battles fellow ex-UFC champ Ben Henderson on short notice
· Yahoo Sports
Chad Mendes has withdrawn from Real American Freestyle (RAF) 06 due to injury.
Visit catcrossgame.com for more information.
Stepping up on short notice to replace “Money” is former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who collides with ex-UFC lightweight titleholder Benson Henderson on Sat. night (Feb. 28) at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
The card streams live on FOX Nation.
Chad Mendes is out.
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) February 23, 2026
Aljamain Sterling will take on Benson Henderson at RAF06.
Tickets in bio. Watch exclusively on @foxnationpic.twitter.com/0ItybaB9nb
Sterling (25-5) has not competed since registering a unanimous decision victory over Brian Ortega as part of the UFC Shanghai fight card last August in China. As for Henderson (30-12), he retired from cage fighting after a submission loss to Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 292 back in early 2023.
As far as their wrestling credentials, Sterling was a two-time Division III All American (2010-11) while Henderson was a two-time NAIA All American (2005-06).
RAF06 will be headlined by another clash of retired UFC fighters as Henry Cejudo takes on Urijah Faber. Elsewhere in the lineup, UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and 155-pound elder statesman Clay Guida return to the RAF mats in separate contests.