Evan Wick defeats Jason Nolf, 10-8 to claim Middleweight World Title

Breakdown: R1: 2-2 | R2: 6-2 Wick | R3: 4-2 Nolf

Heading into RAF01, the matchup between Evan Wick and Jason Nolf was one of the most anticipated on the card. If betting lines existed, Nolf likely would’ve been a slight favorite. But Wick had other plans—and by the final whistle, he walked off with the biggest win of his freestyle career.

In a high-paced, back-and-forth thriller, Wick defeated Nolf 10–8, proving that his steady rise since the 2024 Olympic Trials is no fluke. It was a signature performance for Wick and a proud moment for the Askren Wrestling Academy RTC back home in Wisconsin.

Wick Starts Fast, Sets the Tone

From the opening exchange, Wick looked sharper. His length, pressure and clean finishing were a problem for Nolf early. He scored quickly off a short-offense single leg, converting clean and setting the tone.

Wick stayed on the attack. He was aggressive in ties, stayed busy with motion and pushed tempo throughout. This wasn’t a match where Wick waited around for counters. He forced the action and made Nolf respond.

Nolf Shows Rust, Flashes Greatness

Nolf, one of the most exciting offensive wrestlers of the past decade, clearly had moments—but he also looked rusty. Having not competed in freestyle since the 2023 Olympic Trials, and spending much of his recent time training for grappling competitions, his reactions felt a half step off early.

Still, he showed flashes of brilliance. Late in the match, he tied the score at 8 with a beautiful out-of-bounds finish that scored two and lit up the crowd. It was vintage Nolf—high amplitude, slick feel, big reaction.

But Wick didn’t let the moment slip.

Clutch Finish Secures the Win

With Nolf holding criteria at 8–8, Wick put his foot on the gas. He chased the action, stayed active, and got in on another leg attack. This time, he finished again—and the scoreboard flipped to 10–8.

That would be the difference.

Wick stayed poised in the final seconds and closed it out. The win didn’t just secure him a big name—it put the wrestling world on notice.

Askren RTC Era Begins with a Bang

This was more than just a personal win for Wick. As the first athlete representing the newly launched Askren Wrestling RTC, it was a moment of validation for the program and its coaching staff. Ben Askren’s fingerprints were all over Wick’s strategic pressure and short-offense setups.

If this is what the future looks like for Wick, 2025 and beyond just got a lot more interesting.