Tomasello vs. Ramos: Bantamweight World Title Showdown at RAF01

Real American Freestyle launches on August 30 in Cleveland with a card stacked top to bottom—but it’s fitting that the very first bout in RAF history pits two of the most dangerous and recognizable lightweights of the last decade against each other.

On opening night, we'll be crowning the inaugural Bantamweight World Champion in a matchup that combines veteran grit with breakout electricity.

Nathan “NATO” Tomasello: The Veteran Who Won’t Go Away

If you’ve followed wrestling over the last 10 years, you know Nathan Tomasello’s name. The Parma, Ohio native carved out one of the most consistent careers in NCAA history—four-time All-American, 2015 National Champion for Ohio State—and then transitioned seamlessly into the freestyle scene.

What makes Tomasello dangerous isn’t just his trophy case—it’s how he wins. He’s built low to the ground, explosive from the first whistle, and relentlessly physical. Once he gets his hands locked, you’re usually going where he wants you to go. He’s wrestled at this weight (61kg / 134 lbs) for years, which means no surprises in conditioning or cut. You try to move NATO around, odds are you’ll be the one backing up.

In an RAF format—three periods, faster pace, high stakes—he’s the kind of competitor who can impose his style early and keep it there.

Matt Ramos: The Underdog Who Refuses to Stay One

If Tomasello is the constant, Ramos is the disruption. He’s made a career out of upending expectations. As a high schooler, he was an unexpected Cadet World Team Trials winner—and then crushed the field at Cadet Worlds. At Purdue, he became a household name overnight when he stunned the sport by pinning Spencer Lee in the 2023 NCAA semifinals, stopping Lee’s run at four straight titles.

Ramos is long, wiry, and thrives in chaos. He can turn scrambles into points before you realize you’re in trouble. His chest-wrap is infamous—hit cleanly, it can flip a match in an instant. In freestyle, where exposure is king, that’s a lethal weapon.

Now representing the Philippines on the international stage, Ramos comes into RAF01 with a chance to skip the usual post-college adjustment period and dive straight into a pro title match.

The Matchup: Strength vs. Length, Order vs. Chaos

Tomasello’s game is built on power positioning, short-offense attacks and hand-to-hand pressure. He’s been here before—big matches, big stakes, bright lights. He’s hard to move, even harder to surprise. His chest is like a brick wall; wrapping him clean will be a challenge even for Ramos.

Ramos, on the other hand, has made a living turning “no way” positions into wins. He’s longer, more unpredictable, and has the ability to hit something big from neutral or defense. If he can bait Tomasello into extended exchanges or create enough movement to open up angles, he could blow the roof off Wolstein early in the night.

The weight could be a factor—Tomasello has been steady at 61kg, while Ramos is moving up from 57kg. That extra size for NATO means more horsepower in ties and on finishes; for Ramos, it means a test of whether his speed and creativity can scale up.

Why It Matters—For Them and for Wrestling

For Tomasello, this is a shot to put his stamp on a brand-new chapter of wrestling history. He’s spent a decade near the top of every ladder. Winning the first RAF Bantamweight World Title would not only make him “the guy” at 135 lbs—it would etch his name into the league’s foundation.

For Ramos, this is a chance to leapfrog the slow grind of international freestyle and show he belongs with the very best—right now. A win over Tomasello on RAF’s debut card would announce him as a global threat at bantamweight, and do it in front of an audience far bigger than a college dual or open tournament.

For wrestling, it’s the perfect tone-setter. This match showcases exactly what RAF is about—elite talent, real stakes. The veteran vs. the upstart. Two guys with wildly different styles and career arcs, colliding in a three-period sprint for the sport’s newest belt.

What to Watch For

• First period pace: Tomasello will want to get to his ties and make Ramos carry weight. Ramos will want to create motion and test Tomasello’s reactions early.
• Scramble defense: If NATO can shut down the chaos, his path to control opens. If Ramos can turn Tomasello’s shots into exposure, the upset watch is on.
• Adjustment to size: Ramos’ first match at this weight in a pro setting will show whether his speed advantage holds against a true 61kg veteran.
• Crowd factor: With Tomasello fighting in Ohio, expect the building to tilt his way. But Ramos has played spoiler before.
  

The Stakes

This is the first belt to be awarded in Real American Freestyle history. That means whoever wins becomes part of a trivia answer forever—and more importantly, becomes the face of RAF bantamweight.

And with the match streaming live on FOX Nation, this is a moment for both athletes to showcase themselves to a wider combat sports audience. MMA fans, NCAA loyalists and international wrestling die-hards will all be watching.

Opening the night is one thing. Setting the tone for a league is another. On August 30, Tomasello and Ramos have the chance to do both.