Two icons from the Philly Wrestling community will be put to the test under the bright lights of Cleveland this coming weekend. Real American Freestyle (RAF) marks its one-year anniversary with RAF 12 on Saturday August 22nd beginning at 8pm. This cross-discipline mega-show is anchored by a co-main event featuring a dream match for local combat sports fans: legendary Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs takes on elite UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady.
The high-stakes, border-war type matchup showcases two of the finest athletes the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey combat sports community has ever produced. Adapted international freestyle wrestling rules will be used for the three round six minute match.
THE NUMBERS
Jordan Burroughs
Representing: All I See Is Gold Academy (Merchantville, NJ)
Hometown/High School: Camden, NJ/Winslow Township HS
Age: 38 years old
Height: 5'-7"
Stance: Right Leg Lead
Primary Discipline: Freestyle Wrestling
Peak Accomplishment: Olympic Gold, 6x World Gold, 2x NCAA Champion
Record: 246-20
Sean Brady
Representing: Marquez MMA (Frankford, Philadelphia, PA)
Hometown/High School: Philadelphia, PA/Swenson Arts & Tech
Age: 34 years old
Height: 5'-9"
Stance: Left Leg Lead
Primary Discipline: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Mixed Martial Arts
Peak Accomplishment: #5 UFC Welterweight/Former CFFC Champion
Record: 19-2
THE ATHLETES
Jordan Burroughs: The Gold Standard
Born in Camden, New Jersey, and developing his skills at Winslow Township High School, Jordan Burroughs built a career on explosiveness, an elite technical savvy, and an unmatched drive to succeed. His collegiate career at the University of Nebraska had him graduating with two NCAA Division 1 titles and a Dan Hodge Trophy, setting the stage for a world-dominating international career.
With seven combined Olympic and World Gold medals, Burroughs holds the standard for American freestyle wrestling. Known for having the most feared double-leg takedown in the history of the sport, Burroughs now leads the All I See Is Gold Academy out of Merchantville, NJ. He may be past his athletic prime, but Burroughs remains a master tactician on the mat whose timing, leverage, and championship composure are second to none.
Sean Brady: The Philly Powerhouse
Stepping up and across from the legend is Philadelphia’s Sean Brady, who represents Marquez MMA in the Frankford section of the city. A graduate of Swenson Arts and Tech High School, Brady earned his way through grit, brutal wrestling-heavy top control, and relentless pressure.
Currently ranked #5 in the UFC’s stacked Welterweight division, the former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder has accumulated a formidable 19-2 professional MMA record. While Brady is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt known for suffocating ground work and positional dominance, stepping onto a freestyle wrestling mat against a legend is a bold venture. Brady brings a slight 2-inch height advantage, a 72-inch reach, and a physical durability forged in the cage.
TACTICAL BREAKDOWN
Pace & Distance: Burroughs operates with legendary speed, using lightning-fast level changes to penetrate directly through an opponent's defense. In a freestyle ruleset, Brady must avoid getting caught on his heels early while navigating Burroughs' explosive hand-fighting.
Takedown Defense vs. Mat Control: Brady's MMA success has largely come from taking opponents down and neutralizing them with heavy pressure. If he does take down Burroughs, there won’t be much time to use that pressure. He’ll need to work fast. Brady will likely aim to use his strength and leverage inside the collar ties to slow Burroughs down and work for opportunistic counter-attacks. He’ll need to score from his feet…if he can get close enough.
Stance Differentiality: Brady is a left-leg lead. Burroughs is a right-leg lead. This could play a factor in who controls the action…and counter-action from the start. Watch closely for who controls the center and who establishes dominant hand fighting early on.
When the whistle blows in Cleveland, fans will witness an iconic generational matchup: one of the finest pure wrestlers the nation has produced against a battle-tested Philly fighter looking to prove that his grappling translates to any stage and any style.
Photo: Real American Freestyle