Massive Underdog Michael Caliendo Stuns Jordan Burroughs at RAF 14
Michael Caliendo pulled off one of the biggest upsets in RAF history, beating Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs 8-5 as a +550 underdog.
Michael Caliendo delivered one of the biggest upsets in Real American Freestyle history on Friday night, defeating Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs 8-5 at RAF 14 inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Caliendo entered as a massive +550 betting underdog against one of the most decorated American wrestlers of all time. Burroughs won Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games and has been a dominant force in freestyle wrestling for over a decade.
But Caliendo did not steal the win on a fluke. Per MMA Mania, the underdog earned his points cleanly and controlled the match enough to pull away on the scorecards. The final score of 8-5 reflected a decisive, legitimate upset rather than a lucky scramble.
Burroughs had been competing regularly on the RAF circuit, coming off a dominant performance at RAF 12. His return to the promotion was supposed to be a showcase, but Caliendo had other plans.
The result sent shockwaves through the combat sports community. Burroughs is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in American history, and losses at this stage of his career carry weight. For Caliendo, the win instantly puts his name on the map in professional wrestling.
This is the kind of result that makes RAF worth watching. You can talk about crossover fights and celebrity matchups all day, but a genuine upset like this is what builds a promotion. Caliendo was a five-and-a-half-to-one underdog against an Olympic gold medalist, and he went out there and beat Burroughs clean, 8-5.
I don't care how old Burroughs is or where he is in his career. That's still Jordan Burroughs. You don't just walk in and beat that guy without being legit. Caliendo earned every bit of attention that's coming his way after this one.
