Starting with Real American Freestyle 03, the organization will now have regulated sports betting markets for the first time. RAF realized a news release on Tuesday indicating the company had partner with ALT Sports Data.

According to the release, ALT Sports Data will manage and distribute real-time RAF event data to sportsbook/gaming operators. Wrestling is a sport that typically isn't offered on sports betting markets outside of the Olympic games.

RAF 03 will be held Nov. 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main event will featured a wrestling bout between former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler and UFC title challenger Chad Mendes.

Olympic silver medalist and Franklin Regional graduate Spencer Lee will be featured on the card as well.

"This is a major step forward for RAF,” said Chad Bronstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Real American Freestyle in a news release. “We’re building the next great combat sports platform, and that means delivering the kind of live experiences and second-screen engagement modern fans expect. ALT gives us the tools and reach to make that happen, and to bring pro freestyle wrestling into the global betting ecosystem in a smart, strategic way.”

According to the release, ALT Sports Data’s proprietary technology platform powers data and betting integrations for combat and emerging sports properties, providing sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365 and others with official odds and real-time pricing. ALT’s broader offering includes global distribution, integrity services, and fan demand generation via its 200M+ social reach and owned media platform, NXTbets.com.

“Real American Freestyle is exactly the kind of forward-thinking league we look to partner with – dynamic, high-impact, and built for digital audiences,” said Todd Ballard, President and Chief Growth Officer at ALT Sports Data. “We’re excited to help them scale betting engagement and connect with fans in an entirely new way.”

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or @J_oshRizzo on X.

Another Franklin Regional graduate will competing on Real American Freestyle. Former Panther Nico Megaludis competed on the card last month in State College, losing by technical fall.

Now, Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee is listed for the next card on Nov. 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Lee is listed as competing at bantamweight (135 pounds) against Ukraine's Andrii Yatsenko. Yatsenko was originally supposed to compete at RAF 02 against Megaludis, but the opponent was changed during fight week.

Megaludis instead faced off against Austin DeSanto, the opponent who upset Lee in the state title match his senior season of high school to prevent Lee from becoming a four-time champion. The main event is set to feature Chad Mendes and Michael Chandler, two UFC alums who have strong amateur wrestling backgrounds.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

NORTH VERSAILLES - Shawn Livingston is ready to move up to the advanced amateur division of MMA. It's hard to say that Livingston, who trains out of Stout PGH and is billed as being from Steubenville, Ohio, shouldn't be in line for the challenge of stiffer competition.

Livingston, a welterweight, has three wins since April, including two by decision. During the 247 Fighting Championships at the Venue 2 card, Livingston scored a well-timed takedown off a kick attempt by his opponent Andreas Angiolelli. Livingston used the sequence to sink in a rear-naked choke.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't use ground-and-pound," Livingston said. "With me going into advanced amateur, you're going to see some of that."

Here are the other results from the card:

• Amateur MMA bantamweight: Jess Hankin win by submission (arm triangle) over Travis Frye, Round 1 1:04
• Amateur MMA lightweight: Hunter Ferber win by submission (guillotine choke) over Ernie Switzer, Round 1 :34
• Grappling super fight: Stellan Mochan win by submission (calf slicer) over Icee Brown
• Grappling super fight: Tyler Tinsman win by submission (rear-naked choke) over Josh Hogans
• Professional MMA: Julian Flenory win by unanimous decision over Jeremy Riley, 30-27 (x3)

Two Pittsburgh-area fighters had a good night at the Cage Fury Fight Championships event at the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City. Justin Patton made his debut with the organization by picking up a unanimous decision win over Frank Wells. Patton, a Plum graduate, improved to 9-4 on his career.

Patton was coming off a loss during his last fight to Chuka Willis in April. Karli Jo Thomas, an Albert Gallatin graduate, picked up her second win as a professional. Thomas won by submission in the third round by locking up a rear-naked choke on Annabel Kelly.

Both Patton and Thomas train out of The Mat Factory in Lower Burrell.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

​Karli Jo Thomas’ introduction to combat sports started as a plan for self defense at the request of her mom, Tonya. Karli Jo and her sister were taken to an MMA-style gym at age 10 to learn how to protect themselves.

Once the now 25-year-old Karli Jo started taking classes at the since shut down Uniontown-basd gym she no longer remembers the name of, she quickly fell in love with the training. Her love of the sport distracted from other questions she may have asked.

Why did they need to learn this intense style of combat?

“Honestly, I’m not really sure,” said Karli Jo, an Albert Gallatin graduate. “She always worries and more so that she knows the world is a little bit crazy. Things can happen and it’s better to have some understanding of how to fight if we have to rather than not.”

Karli Jo more than understands the process now. She will be searching for her second consecutive professional win this Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on the undercard of the Cage Fury Fighting Championships 145 event.

Karli Jo, who is 1-0 as a professional, will take on Annabel Kelly, who is 3-0 with two knockouts in a strawweight bout. 

Isaac Greeley, who is the owner of the Mat Factory in Lower Burrell where Karli Jo trains, believes this is a good opportunity for her to build her profile.

“They really liked her pro debut,” Greeley said. “They want her to be a part of the organization. If she can win this fight, she can be set to take off in a big way.”

Mom watches, reluctantly
Karli Jo's early fighting experience wasn't like the typical kid who does a karate class. The first gym they attended allowed younger members to give everything a go.
​
“We did the punching, kicking and everything they do there,” Karli Jo said. “We worked on grappling, wrestling and jiu jitsu.”

As Karli Jo got more involved with the sport, she ended up at the Uniontown Fight Club -- which also no longer exists -- where she met Josh Fremd, who went on to fight in the UFC, and Nick Browne, who fought in Bellator and the Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Karli Jo, who wrestled one season in high school and now coaches the Waynesburg women’s wrestling team, was all in on fighting. It wasn’t exactly what her mom intended.

But Tonya still attends the fights.

“She has some mixed emotions about it,” Karli Jo said. “She made it clear that she would like it if I did something else. She understands I do it because I love it. It’s where I feel like I have purpose.”

Let’s make a weekend out of it
Karli Jo will have plenty of support in Atlantic City. In addition to her coaches, she will be joined by her boyfriend, Justin Patton, who also trains at the Mat Factory. Patton, who is 8-4 as a professional, is a Plum graduate.

Patton will fight Frank Wells in a featherweight bout in the bout before Karli Jo’s. This is the fourth time they’ve been on the same card together.

“What’s funny is I’ll be fighting after him,” Karli Jo said. “I’m guessing it’s because I’ve fought for them once already. Usually he goes before me because he sells tickets and is more popular. It’s definitely stressful watching someone you care about fight like that.”

Greeley said he is excited to see them both compete.

“They both represent what we stress as the Mat Factory,” Greeley said. “They represent that to the fullest.”

Up for the challenge

Karli Jo is hoping to take another step up in the MMA world. She turned professional last May after spending four years on the amateur circuit.

Greeley said he has seen a large improvement in her skillset. Karli Jo cut her teeth in the Ohio Combat Legue and 247 Fighting Championships as an amateur.

“She’s an amazing fighter,” Greeley said. “She’s probably the toughest fighter we have. She is a gritty, tough girl and she’s getting really technical.”

Karli Jo submitted Lateesha Mohl in the first round with a guillotine in her debut. She isn’t trying to make any promises for her upcoming fight.

“From the first fight to the second fight, it doesn’t feel too much better,” Karli Jo said. “It doesn’t feel much better than being an amateur. It’s about learning how to handle the five-minute rounds and pacing myself.”

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Colleen Davis took another fight in enemy territory against another tough opponent. Davis, a Millvale resident, ended up on the wrong side of the scorecards during the Riverhead Fight Series at The Suffolk in Riverhead, N.Y.

Davis lost a unanimous decision 77-75, 78-74 (x2) to Chiara Dituri, who is from Brooklyn. It was the first time in Davis' career that she fought eight rounds. Jose Caraballo, who trains Davis out of the Ray Schaefer Boxing Association in Sharpsburg, wasn't happy with the decision. It was the second fight in a row where Caraballo felt Davis was the more active fighter and wasn't rewarded for it.

"Only in New York can you get back up the entire time ... lose almost every round, start crying because u think u lost, get warned til points are about to be taken and still win," Caraballo wrote on an Instagram posted. "#robbed watch the fight. ... #baddecisions."

​Davis fell to 4-4-1 in her career. Dituri improved to 12-2 and has five wins via knockout.

Josh Rizzo is the editor of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be emailed to [email protected] on X @J_oshRizzo

.Ethan Goss' return to the national stage didn't end how he hoped. The Petersburg, Pa., native and former 247 Fighting Championships double champion wanted to stay on the outside and strike. However, Goss' undefeated opponent, Alexei Pergande, didn't plan to give him time to operate during their featherweight bout during the PFL World Tournament 10 on Thursday night in Hollywood, Fla.

Pergande landed a stiff knee along the cage and used that to bring Goss to a knee on the fence. Pergande quickly wrapped up a D'Arce choke, forcing Goss to tap with 1 minute, 8 seconds remaining in the first round. Pergande improved to 7-0 in his career.

Goss fell to 12-8. Pergande finished with a 16-11 edge in strikes landed. Pergande started the sequence that ended the fight by catching a leg kick attempt by Goss. As Goss fell toward the canvas, Pergande fired off a knee that landed above Goss' eyebrow and opened a cut. 

This was Goss' second professional fight in a major promotion. He last fought in Bellator in 2017.

Josh Rizzo is the editor of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] on X @J_oshRizzo.

Faith Nichols wants to listen to all of her students. Nichols, a Carmichaels High School graduate, needs to know what approach to take when working with her class of people who are grappling with their mental health.

Punching things helps sometimes. But it isn’t the only approach.

“I’m pretty good at letting them talk and tell me what they need,” said Nichols, who is 5-foot-3 and fights under the “Silent Treatment” moniker. “Sometimes, they need to hit mitts and other times they need to chill out or talk.”

Nichols (3-5) is set to fight Monica Hicks (2-2) in an amateur flyweight MMA bout during the Live MMA at Penguin City 9 event Aug. 31 at Penguin City Brewery in Youngstown, Ohio. The event, put on by Made Men Promotions, will have several fighters with Pittsburgh ties competing.

Nichol moved to Ohio two years ago to train with the Demolition Fight Team in Findlay, Ohio. Before the 25-year-old Nichols started working with the Demolition Outreach Program, she picked up a variety of blue-collar jobs.

“Usually I would do odd jobs, pick up construction work or pick raspberries around this time,” Nichols said. 

Nichols has enjoyed the challenge of working with people struggling with mental health. She grapples with helping people take on the challenges of anxiety, along with other challenges they may face.

“I get to do what I love and I get to teach people what I love to do,” Nichols said. “That helps me with my mental health as well.”

Nichols, who also trained with High Ground jiu jitsu in Greensburg, started doing karate at age 3. She didn’t give her mom many options. Nichols was first put into a dance class by the Circle K in Carmichaels.

“My mom put me in a dance class, and there was a karate class next to it,” Nichols said. “I would try to fight my way out of class to watch them. Finally, the instructor let me into his class.”

Nichols’ resume grew quickly. While her dad didn’t let her wrestle, Nichols was allowed to take judo classes and she started boxing at 11. Eventually, a friend got her into jiu jitsu competitions.

When Nichols was ready to start competing in MMA, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down her ambitions. Nichols eventually debuted in November 2022 when she lost to Joanna Duarte by decision.

Nichols, who has lost consecutive fights, is eager to fight Hicks, who won her last fight by armbar. For her upcoming fight, Nichols wants to control the pace.

“I’ve learned I need to go in there and act like it’s the last round of the fight,” Nichols said. “I need to step up my fame. I need to give my opponent respect, but not give them a break.”

​Nichols was submitted via armbar in her last fight.

“My ground game has gotten better,” Nichols said. “The mentality wasn’t there for my last fight. I don’t feel like I got the right amount of training. I feel like I have the right mindset and my wrestling has improved greatly. I feel like if it hits the ground again, it will end in a finish in my favor.”

The other fighters on the card, according to Tapology, who are fighting out of the Pittsburgh area include:

• Lightweight, Travis Schneider, 27, 1-1, Scottdale vs. Elias Palmer, 2-1-1, Lorain, Ohio.
• ​Light heavyweight, Kevin Dziubek, 0-1, Pittsburgh vs. David Delgado, 0-0, Greensburg

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.