Jake Varner vs. Pat Downey: Cyclones Collide in State College

Two former Iowa State legends. One Olympic champion. One chaos agent. And a packed Bryce Jordan Center ready to erupt.

On October 25, Real American Freestyle returns with RAF02, streaming live on FOX Nation—and one of the most anticipated matchups pits gold medalist and NLWC head coach Jake Varner against the always unpredictable Pat “Lizard King” Downey.

It’s power vs. pressure. Precision vs. mayhem. A wrestling homecoming with plenty of tension baked in.

Jake Varner: The Olympian Comes Home

You don’t build the most dominant room in American wrestling without a rock-solid foundation—and for Penn State’s Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Jake Varner has been just that.

Before he was shaping Olympic rosters as head coach of the NLWC, Varner was dominating them. A two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State and 2012 Olympic gold medalist at 96kg, Varner was the picture of control: patient, powerful and always in position. After following Cael Sanderson to State College, he elevated from NCAA great to world-level technician—and has never left.

He stepped away from competition in 2016, but make no mistake: Varner never stopped wrestling. Day in, day out, he trains with the best in the country in a room that consistently produces half of Team USA’s world and Olympic rosters.

Now, for one night only, he’s stepping back onto the mat. In front of his home crowd. In the arena he helped fill with banners. And he’s not coming back to coast.

Pat Downey III: Chaos in Human Form

Pat Downey has never done things the traditional way—and that’s exactly why fans can’t look away.

The former Iowa State All-American has worn many hats: U.S. Open champion, freestyle national team member, grappling standout and social media agitator. He’s called out legends, stirred the pot and made himself impossible to ignore. But behind the antics is a serious talent—one that’s collected big-name scalps on the mat and made noise across combat sports.

Downey’s roots are freestyle, but lately, he’s built momentum in submission grappling, competing in high-level events like CJI and training with top MMA camps, including Khamzat Chimaev’s team before Chimaev’s UFC title win. He’s sharpened his defense, refined his counters and added even more danger to his already unorthodox game.

And now he’s back in a wrestling singlet, facing off against the head coach of the very room he loves to troll.

The Matchup: Veteran Steel vs. Unfiltered Fire

This bout is less about records and more about rhythm. Can Varner keep the pace stable, or will Downey throw the whole thing off-script?

Varner thrives in hand-to-hand combat. He controls ties, wins position and rarely gives up points cheaply. His strength and balance are elite, and his ability to dictate tempo—especially under pressure—has never left.

Downey, on the other hand, lives in unpredictability. His European-style stance invites misdirection. His head pinch is lethal. His timing can flip a match in seconds. If he catches Varner overextended or off-balance, the crowd might see something wild.

One wants a wrestling match. The other wants a moment.

Why It Matters

This isn’t a grudge match. It’s a measuring stick.

For Varner, it’s about legacy. One more time on the mat. In his building. Against a fighter who’s been poking the bear for years.

For Downey, it’s a shot to upset a living legend—and maybe grab the mic while doing it.

For wrestling, it’s a spectacle. A moment that only RAF could deliver. Olympic gold vs. freestyle rebel. NLWC vs. everywhere-but-here. Two Cyclones. One collision.

What to Watch For

Opening tempo: Can Varner slow things down and get to his positions, or will Downey go off-script early?

Mat sharpness: Varner’s been training—but training and competing are different animals. Is he still game-ready?

Downey’s tricks: Has the MMA and grappling work added new wrinkles to Downey’s already unpredictable game?

Crowd energy: This is State College. It’s Varner Country. But if Downey stirs the pot, expect the roof to shake.