Raheam Forest is undefeated and carries championship gold around his waist, but the man known to his fans as “Rambo” is only just getting started as he looks to make his name as a top-level welterweight.
Forest captured the CFFC welterweight title at CFFC 115, where he edged Collin Lubberts via split decision in Tunica, Mississippi. Now he’s set for action at CFFC 118 on Saturday, April 1, when he’ll put his title on the line for the first time at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, live on UFC Fight Pass.
With the memory of his five-round war with Lubberts still fresh in his memory, Forest said he’ll carry added confidence into the cage when he takes on surging contender “Chuck Buffalo” Charlie Radtke in the main event.
“That last fight was a great experience; it motivated me in so many ways,” Forest told CFFC.tv.
“I could hang with Collin because I knew he was good, durable, and a dog. It gave me the confidence that I could hang with anyone. Just saying, he was one tough dude, he took some shots of mine that a lot of people can’t take. It was just an experience we both needed.”
Forest’s matchup with Radtke looks like a potential barnburner on paper, with both men loving to stand and bang. Forest is undefeated at 6-0 with three KOs and one submission to his name, while Radtke also has three KOs in his six career victories, including a 108-second finish of Caleb Crump in his last outing at CFFC 110 in July 2022.
It’s a matchup that excites Forest, who said the fans are in for a treat when “Rambo” meets “Chuck Buffalo” in Philly… for as long as it lasts.
“Both of us are powerhouses, and either one of us could end it quick,” Forest admitted.
“So we just have to come out and be smart fighters and compete and give the people a show.
“We both love this, and I can tell by how someone carries themselves in this fight game. We were born to compete.
“Charlie’s a very technical guy and very explosive, and he likes to sit in the pocket, and that’s my type of party right there.”
Forest has his sights set on his seventh career win and his first title defense, but more importantly, he plans to help put Memphis, Tennessee on the MMA map with a performance full of heart and skill.
“I want to prove that Memphis has talent and hard workers,” Forest said.
“What a lot of people from Memphis fail to realize is that you actually have to put the work in and put the crying and pouting to the side and get the s**t done.
“I’ve been broke, homeless, and just mentally not there doing this, and I never thought about quitting. There’s no quit in me.”
CFFC 118: Fight card
MAIN CARD
- Raheam Forest vs. Charlie Radtke – for welterweight title
- Vilson Ndregjoni vs. Ashiek Ajim – for vacant bantamweight title
- Eric Nolan vs. Blayne Richards
- Riley Palmer vs. Donzeill Marshall
- Dylan Mantello vs. Charlie Alexander
- Ian Allston vs. Daiquon Buckley
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Joseph Schick vs. Thomas Picciano
- Nick Galanti vs. MA Yah Li – for NextGen middleweight title
- Nick Gebhard vs. Michael Shivecharan – amateur bout
Photo credit: Cage Fury Fighting Championships