RAF Georgia
| RAF Georgia: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for RAF Georgia: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo | ||||
| Promotion | Real American Freestyle | |||
| Date | July 11, 2026 | |||
| Venue | Tbilisi Arena | |||
| City | Tbilisi, Georgia | |||
| Attendance | 8,000+[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
RAF Georgia: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo was a freestyle wrestling event produced by the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion that took place on July 11, 2026, at the Tbilisi Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia.[2]
Background
[edit]The event marked RAF's first visit to Georgia and featured several of the nation's top freestyle wrestlers. In the main event, former UFC Bantawmeight Champion Merab Dvalishvili faced former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion (also 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling) Henry Cejudo.[3] They were originally scheduled to compete at RAF 08 in April 2026 but Cejudo withdrew hours before the event.[4] They competed at UFC 298 in mixed martial arts in February 2024 where Dvalishvili won via unanimous decision.[5]
Three championship bouts took place at the event:
- A RAF Light Heavyweight Championship bout between champion Kyle Snyder (also 2016 Summer Olympics men's freestyle gold medalist) and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2016 and 2020) Abdulrashid Sadulaev.[6] They competed five previous times with Snyder winning in August 2017 and September 2023, while Sadulaev won in October 2017, August 2021 and October 2021.
- A RAF Cruiserweight Championship bout between champion Kyle Dake (also four-time NCAA Division I National Champion) and Vladimer Gamkrelidze.[7]
- A RAF Women's Bantamweight Championship bout between champion Helen Maroulis (also 2016 Summer Olympics freestyle wrestling gold medalist) and Anhelina Lysak.[8]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight |  Merab Dvalishvili |
def. |  Henry Cejudo |
Decision (11–8) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Kyle Snyder (c) |
def. |  Abdulrashid Sadulaev |
Fall | 3 | 0:25 | [a] |
| Cruiserweight | Kyle Dake (c) |
def. | Vladimer Gamkrelidze |
Decision (2–0) | 3 | 2:00 | [b] |
| Featherweight | Vladimer Khinchegashvili |
def. | Conor Beebe |
Technical fall (11–0) | 2 | 2:00 | |
| Lightweight |  Ernazar Akmataliev |
def. | Zain Retherford |
Decision (3–3, last point) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Givi Matcharashvili |
def. | Zach Elam |
Decision (7–3) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Geno Petriashvili |
def. | Jake Varner |
Technical fall (10–0) | 2 | 1:02 | |
| Women's Bantamweight | Helen Maroulis (c) |
def. |  Anhelina Lysak |
Fall | 3 | 2:00 | [c] |
| Cruiserweight | Razambek Zhamalov |
def. | Jarrett Jacques |
Decision (3–2) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Women's Bantamweight |  Anastasia Nichita |
def. |  Vinesh Phogat |
Decision (7–6) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Featherweight | Brock Hardy |
def. | Alibeg Alibegov |
Technical fall (13–2) | 2 | 1:22 | |
| Middleweight |  Arman Tsarukyan |
def. |  Kuat Khamitov |
Technical fall (11–0) | 3 | 1:06 | |
- ↑ For the RAF Light Heavyweight Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Cruiserweight Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Bonus awards
[edit]The following athletes received bonuses.[10][11]
- Match of the Night: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo
- Performance of the Night: Kyle Snyder
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ Donagh Corby (2026-07-10). "Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo share friendly drink and meal ahead of RAF Wrestling rematch". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Bryan Tucker (2026-07-12). "RAF Georgia results: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- ↑ Simon Samano (2026-07-11). "RAF Georgia video: Merab Dvalishvili mounts big comeback to defeat Henry Cejudo". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- ↑ Harvey Leonard (2026-04-30). "RAF 08 shakeup: Merab Dvalishvili rejects offer as Arman Tsarukyan volunteers two bouts". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ Dylan Napoleone (2024-02-17). "UFC 298: Merab Dvalishvili Ultimately Too Much for Ex-Champ Henry Cejudo". casesidepress.com. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- ↑ Damon Martin (2026-07-12). "Kyle Snyder scores pinfall victory over Abdulrashid Sadulaev in showdown between Olympic champions at RAF Georgia". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ David Gerhart (2026-07-23). "Snyder pins Sadulaev; Dake, Maroulis retain belts at RAF Georgia". nwhof.org. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ RAF (2026-07-14). "RAF Georgia recap – "Please come back!"". realamericanfreestyle.com. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-07-11). "RAF Georgia: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo". realamericanfreestyle.com. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-07-12). "This one delivered". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-07-12). "Kyle Snyder takes home RAF Georgia Performance of the Night". instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.