Wyatt Hendrickson is aiming for Olympic gold in 2028 while competing in Real American Freestyle, where he faces top wrestlers like Mason Parris, and expresses interest in potential matchups with UFC heavyweights, while also enjoying Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Wyatt Hendrickson’s got his eyes on Olympic gold in 2028. Meanwhile, he’s honing his skills in Real American Freestyle (RAF).
This new promotion, co-founded by WWE legend Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, mixes current wrestling stars with legends, creating a vibe similar to UFC events. On Dec. 20, Hendrickson headlines against Olympian Mason Parris, a match that hints at the 2028 U.S. Olympic trials.
“Mason and I? People say it’s down to us for the Olympics,” Hendrickson shared with MMA Fighting. “I wondered, should I wrestle him now? But then, why not just smash him?”
Originally set for Stillwater, the match moved to Indiana—Parris’s home turf. “I love hostile environments,” Hendrickson admitted. “They fuel me.”
Hendrickson’s RAF debut saw him dominate 2024 Olympian Mostafa Elders. Now, he’s set to face Parris.
RAF also attracts fighters with wrestling backgrounds. Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero returns to wrestling on the same card, facing Pat Downey.
Hendrickson hasn’t faced UFC heavyweights yet, but he’s open to it. He chuckles at the thought of facing someone like Brock Lesnar, knowing it might be a mismatch.
“I like that they’re bringing in more competitors,” Hendrickson said. “But heavyweights like Mason and me? We’re in our prime. It’s risky for others.”
He mentioned a past match with Parris where they nearly broke the stage. “These aren’t little pitter-patter matches. Make them sign more waivers first.”
UFC fighters like Joaquin Buckley and Clay Guida have already competed in RAF. Upcoming events feature names like Belal Muhammad and Colby Covington.
Hendrickson welcomes challenges from UFC heavyweights but doubts the outcome would favor them. “Some MMA guys need more wrestling skills,” he noted.
Despite avoiding MMA due to past concussions, Hendrickson respects fighters. He’s recently taken up Brazilian jiu-jitsu and found a new passion.
“I feel like I’ll do jiu-jitsu for life,” Hendrickson said. “It’s exciting. I couldn’t get anything on a 160-pound guy. He was all over me.”
As for facing Lesnar or any UFC heavyweight in RAF, Hendrickson is eager. “I’d be like, dude, where do I sign?” he said. “It’s a win-win. This is really cool!”