Bo Bassett: Real American Freestyle blew expectations out of the water

Virginia Tech commit Bo Bassett got his first crack at Real American Freestyle at RAF 03, pinning Darrion Caldwell in the first minute. Caldwell was a four-time ACC Champion, 2009 NCAA champion and former MMA champion in Bellator.

Bassett meanwhile, was one of the most sought after wrestling recruits in recent memory. He is currently the No. 2 pound for pound prospect in 2026, behind Bishop McCort teammate Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State). But Bassett already got a chance to wrestle on the pro stage in freestyle wrestling, as RAF continues to evolve as a pro option for wrestlers who make, or don’t make the Olympic and World teams.

Like a UFC model, there are weight classes and belts on the line. Bassett plans to wrestle at RAF again during the high school season, if the schedule allows.

“Really, really awesome opportunity for me, a lot of amazing opportunities, coming up with high school, with future RAF matches, and, really, next year, getting into college,” Bassett told On3. “So there’s so much excitement, no motivation needed, really, but wrestling at RAF, it was more than I had expected, and I had pretty high expectations, but it totally blew those out of the water. 

“What they’re doing for wrestling, and putting us on mainstream has been unbelievable. It’s been awesome to be a part of that at the early stages, and I believe it’s just going to take off. It’s going to keep growing every single time, every single card and the rest of the guy like Darrion was a pretty cool opportunity too.”

Bassett said RAF provided him an opportunity to chase the best competition. He recently competed at the Bill Farrell tournament, winning the title at 65 KG and beat three-time All-American Beau Bartlett of Penn State in the finals. Chasing the best is in Bassett’s blood.

“I think it’s exciting,” Bassett said. “We always are preached to chase lions and big opportunities, guys that are supposed to beat us, or we’re always bumping up age groups, really. And that’s something I’ve done since I was younger. And so when I got the call, I knew it was going to be somebody at the highest level. It was going to be a professional at what they do. I wasn’t quite sure who my opponent was going to be, but I knew I was signing with (an) organization that does everything at the highest level. And so from that moment forward, I was excited entering the room at practice. 

“Once I got my opponent in Darrion, I think for me, it was just preparing the right way, like a professional, and I knew he was going to do the same. I know that he’s accomplished a lot of amazing things … I know that I put a lot of work into, I might be a lot younger than him, but I also have a lot of years in myself … And so it’s been pretty cool to, you know, go through those experiences, and RAF was just another one that is going to be hard to beat.”