RAF03: Austin Gomez vs. Austin O’Connor — Chicago’s Grudge Match at 155lbs

Austin vs. Austin. Mexico vs. USA. Attack vs. Control.

But forget all that for a second—this one’s personal.

Two Illinois natives. Two of the most decorated wrestlers the city of Chicago has ever produced. And two guys who’ve been trading wins since they were six years old.

At RAF03, Austin Gomez and Austin O’Connor meet again—this time as grown men, pros and contenders. A lightweight #1 contender bout with title implications and decades of rivalry behind it.

Childhood Rivals. Grown Man Stakes.

This isn’t just a style clash. It’s a rematch that’s been 20 years in the making.

They’ve gone back and forth since youth mats, met in high school finals and took separate paths through college—O’Connor at North Carolina, Gomez at Iowa State, Wisconsin and Michigan.

They never stood on the same NCAA podium, but only because they were at different weights. Now they’re both at 155. And now it counts.

Austin Gomez: Full Throttle

You won’t find many wrestlers more explosive than Austin Gomez.

He’s already logged the fastest finish in RAF history (a tech over Lance Palmer at RAF01) and he’s coming off a red-hot international season: Pan-Am champion, Olympian for Mexico and a win over World Champ Iszmail Musukaev at the Hungarian Ranking Series.

Gomez thrives in broken positions, transitions and upper-body exchanges that end fast. If he controls the ties, expect throws. If O’Connor hangs too long, expect fireworks.

Austin O’Connor: Pressure and Polish

Austin O’Connor doesn’t give away points. He earns them and denies them—over and over again.

The two-time NCAA Champion and four-time All-American for UNC built his career on pace, poise and smart offense from hard ties. He grinds guys down, scores clean and stays in your face until it breaks you.

Since graduation, he’s returned to Illinois and joined the coaching staff at the University of Illinois—but he’s still competing. Still climbing. Still sharp.

This is his RAF debut. And it’s the perfect match to start with.

What to Watch For

• O’Connor’s tie-ups: He’ll try to slow the tempo and force controlled exchanges.
• Gomez’s throws: If he gets to upper body or scrambles, he can end it quickly.
• Who dictates pace: Both guys like to lead. Whoever does gets to wrestle their match.

Stream it Live

RAF03 goes down November 29—watch Gomez vs. O’Connor and the full event live on FOX Nation.