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Four time All American, two time PFL championLANCE PALMER◆EST. 2011 · 5 ft 6 in · 69 in REACH · 1-3 RAF · ⟨ THE PARTY ⟩
The Party · Four time NCAA All American, Ohio State

Real American FreestyleLance Palmer

Lightweight · RAF · PFL · WSOF

NOWRAF Head of Talent Development · 1-3 as an RAF competitor
1-3In RAF
23-8Pro MMA
4xNCAA All American
2PFL titles
And the wrestling behind it
PHOTO SLOTEst. 2011 · Cleveland, Ohio
Roster File · Four time All American, two time PFL championLance Palmer
01

Overview

Lance Palmer has the deepest wrestling resume of anyone Arman Tsarukyan has faced in RAF, and it did not help him for very long.

He is one of only eight four time NCAA All Americans in Ohio State history, placing fourth as a true freshman in 2007, eighth in 2008, fourth in 2009 and second in 2010, when he also won the Big Ten title at 149 pounds and was named the conference tournament's most outstanding wrestler. He went into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

In MMA he won back to back Professional Fighters League season championships in 2018 and 2019, a million dollars each, after two runs as WSOF featherweight champion.

Tsarukyan's RAF debut came against him at RAF 05 and lasted one period: an immediate takedown for four, then another with a turn, and a 10-0 technical fall.

Setting one thing straight

He is not only a competitor. Palmer has been RAF's Head of Talent Development since 2025, which makes him one of the few people who both books the roster and loses to it.

02

RAF Record

1-3RAF record
4Matches
1Win, over Cayden Henschel
2021Ohio State Hall of Fame

1-3 across 4 completed matches, every one linked to its full card. A tech fall means a ten point lead ended it early, freestyle wrestling’s version of a squash.

DateEventOpponentResultMethod
Jun 13, 2026RAF 10 Aaron PicoLtech fall 1-12
Apr 18, 2026RAF 08 Cayden HenschelWdec 3-2
Jan 10, 2026RAF 05 Arman TsarukyanLtech fall 0-10
Aug 30, 2025RAF 01 RAF debutAustin GomezLtech fall 0-11

4 matches on record, 0 announced

03

Background

Four NCAA All American finishes at 149 pounds for Ohio State, in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, one of only eight wrestlers in programme history to do it. He was Big Ten champion and the tournament's most outstanding wrestler in 2010, team captain that year, and finished 121-33 in college. Before that he won four Ohio state titles at St. Edward High School with a 150-6 record and an NHSCA senior national title.

04

Rivalries

RAF 05, January 10

Arman Tsarukyan

Tsarukyan's RAF debut. Two takedowns and a turn inside the first period for a 10-0 technical fall, celebrated with the Armenian flag.

RAF 10, June 13

Aaron Pico

Pico's wrestling comeback came at Palmer's expense, a 12-1 technical fall in St. Louis.

RAF 08, April 18

Cayden Henschel

His only RAF win to date, a 3-2 decision in Philadelphia.

05

FAQ

How good a wrestler was Lance Palmer?

One of eight four time NCAA All Americans in Ohio State history, a 2010 Big Ten champion, and an Ohio State Athletics Hall of Famer.

What is his RAF record?

1-3, with the win over Cayden Henschel at RAF 08.

What did he win in the PFL?

Back to back season championships in 2018 and 2019, worth a million dollars each.

Does he work for RAF?

Yes. He has been RAF's Head of Talent Development since 2025 while still competing.