Lance Palmer vs. Austin Gomez: Clash of Eras, Styles, and Stakes at RAF01

On August 30 in Cleveland, two very different wrestling journeys will meet in the center of the mat. Lance Palmer, the hometown hero and MMA veteran, returns to his roots to take on Olympic freestyle standout Austin Gomez in a bout that pits experience against explosiveness.

This is a matchup between two elite athletes with different styles, different arcs and something very real to prove.

Lance Palmer: The King of Cleveland Returns

Lance Palmer’s name still rings out in Northeast Ohio wrestling circles. A four-time state champion for Lakewood St. Edward, Palmer helped build one of the most respected high school dynasties in the country. He stayed close to home for college, competing for Ohio State and becoming the program’s eighth ever four-time All-American.

But instead of following the traditional freestyle path after college, Palmer made a different choice. He moved west, trained under Urijah Faber at Team Alpha Male and launched a successful MMA career. He won two million-dollar titles in the WSOF (now PFL), proving that his toughness and positioning translated just fine in the cage.

Still, he never stopped being a wrestler. Palmer’s style—forward pressure, calculated aggression, dominant hand fighting—remains rooted in years of grind matches and Big Ten battles. And now, for one night in his hometown, he’s coming back to show that age, format and fight mileage don’t matter when you’ve got the tools.

Cleveland will show up for him. And he’ll show up to remind them why they always did.

Austin Gomez: Full Speed, No Hesitation

Across from Palmer is a very different kind of threat. Austin Gomez is a three-time Illinois state champion, a multi-time NCAA All-American and now an Olympian for Mexico. His style is the opposite of cautious. He doesn’t wait for openings. He creates them. And when he goes, he goes big.

Gomez has never been one to play it safe. Whether it’s launching upper body attacks or chasing flurries off the edge, he’s always looking to score. His match history is full of wild scrambles, unexpected turns and sudden momentum shifts. And more often than not, he comes out on top.

What makes his story even more compelling is how close it came to ending. Injuries piled up. At one point, he stepped away entirely. But he fought through it all. Made his comeback. Made the Olympic team. And now he’s one of the most exciting, dangerous athletes in freestyle wrestling.

Gomez is still in his prime. Still hungry. And still looking to add names to his list.

The Matchup: Position vs. Risk, Hometown Pride vs. International Fire

Palmer thrives in control. He doesn’t give up easy scores. He hand fights hard, holds position and punishes mistakes. His transition game from college to MMA has only sharpened that instinct. He may not have recent freestyle reps, but he knows how to stay grounded and how to win a fight.

Gomez wants chaos. He wants motion. He wants a match where things break down and opportunities appear. His best sequences happen when positions stretch. His instincts take over. And his willingness to go for it often forces opponents out of rhythm.

The question is: can Palmer keep Gomez in check long enough to wear him down? Or will Gomez break open one of the early exchanges and ride that momentum to a statement win?

Why It’s a Can’t-Miss Matchup

Palmer represents something nostalgic. Old-school toughness. Classic control. He’s local, decorated and built for a fight. Gomez is a modern freestyle striker—unpredictable, explosive and a danger from the first whistle.

For Palmer, this is a homecoming. For Gomez, it’s another step toward global relevance. Two paths. One platform.

What to Watch For

• First contact: Who controls the ties early? That’ll set the tone for how much movement this match allows.
• Palmer’s position: If he stays grounded and forces a slower pace, Gomez may struggle to create.
• Gomez’s risk: If he gets Palmer off balance, a quick 4-pointer could swing the entire bout.
• Crowd factor: Cleveland is Palmer country. But Gomez has the kind of energy that wins over any crowd.

The Stakes

Palmer wants to show the city—and the wrestling world—that he still belongs on a big mat. That wrestling is wrestling, and experience counts. That he can come back after a decade away from competition and remind people what control looks like.

Gomez wants to keep climbing. Keep beating big names. Keep adding fuel to the idea that he’s a real contender on the global stage.

This matchup’s about respect. One earned a long time ago. One still being built. And on August 30, they’ll meet in the middle.