All articles tagged with #merab dvalishvili
Henry Cejudo defeated Merab Dvalishvili in 36 seconds on the RAF Wrestling mat to win the belt, delivering the fastest tech fall in RAF Wrestling history and setting up a potential fourth meeting across disciplines; Cejudo also called out Cody Garbrandt (and Chael Sonnen) as his next opponent, while Dvalishvili appeared gracious and the crowd celebrated with a Georgian dance.
Henry Cejudo defeated Merab Dvalishvili in 36 seconds with a first-round pinfall at RAF 12 in Cleveland, avenging a prior decision loss and moving both fighters to 2-1 in RAF, with talks of a potential trilogy amid the card’s results.
Henry Cejudo wasted no time in his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili, blasting inside for a quick four‑point takedown and pinning Dvalishvili just 36 seconds into RAF 12 to become the RAF crossover champion. He immediately called out Cody Garbrandt, while Dvalishvili shifts focus to a Petr Yan trilogy at UFC 333 in October.
Umar Nurmagomedov criticized Merab Dvalishvili for slapping his friend in Georgia, calling such behavior unacceptable and saying wrongdoings should be called out regardless of who commits them, as their rivalry and potential rematch between the bantamweights remain in play.
Merab Dvalishvili responded to Umar Nurmagomedov’s criticisms of a Georgia altercation at RAF Georgia, saying he was provoked and that his Georgian upbringing drives him to defend himself; he admitted slapping a Nurmagomedov associate during the incident, warned the Nurmagomedov camp to stop trash talk, and also expressed readiness for a Petr Yan trilogy with a UFC contract announcement awaited.
Merab Dvalishvili erased an 8-0 deficit to rally past Olympic champion Henry Cejudo in the RAF Georgia main event, using a flurry of takedowns and a late four-point move to seize an 11-8 lead and seal the upset in his second freestyle bout since joining RAF.
In Tbilisi, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Henry Cejudo by unanimous decision in the RAF Georgia main event; the card also featured Kyle Snyder defending the RAF light heavyweight title against Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Arman Tsarukyan returning to face Kuat Khamitov, along with a slate of other wrestling bouts.
Merab Dvalishvili says a UFC trilogy with Petr Yan is still on hold for 2026 as he awaits booking news and recovers from nose injuries, while staying active in RAF with a Georgia-headlined fight against Henry Cejudo. He acknowledges being the underdog at home but plans to leverage the crowd, and even declares, “After our match, win or lose, I’m going to make Henry Cejudo get drunk in Georgia.” The bout adds pressure and anticipation to both the UFC plan for Yan and Dvalishvili’s return to his homeland for the RAF event.
Merab Dvalishvili says Ilia Topuria fought essentially blind after an eye poke and resulting damage in the UFC main event with Justin Gaethje; Topuria pushed hard but lost, vows to rebound and seek a rematch, with Dvalishvili confident he’ll reclaim the belt when healthy.
RAF 9 in Arlington, Texas, featured Gable Steveson’s impressive debut with a 10-0 technical fall over Alexandr Romanov; Colby Covington edged Chris Weidman 5-4 in a tight co-main; Kyle Snyder captured the light-heavyweight title with a 10-0 technical fall; Merab Dvalishvili defeated Frankie Edgar 12-1; additional winners included Real Woods, Parker Keckeisen, Jason Nolf, Zain Retherford, Ridge Lovett, Lucia Yepez, and Arman Tsarukyan (5-0 over Keelon Jimison), who earned a future matchup with Covington.
Ronda Rousey returned from retirement and submitted Gina Carano in 17 seconds at MVP MMA 1 on Netflix, leaving Merab Dvalishvili—who trained with Carano and had predicted a Carano upset—stunned by the ruthless performance; Dvalishvili, who hasn’t fought since losing to Petr Yan, is pursuing a Yan trilogy after back surgery and will wrestle Frankie Edgar at RAF 09 on May 30, with a potential Dvalishvili–Cejudo rematch unclear due to injury.
Henry Cejudo pulled out of RAF08 on fight day due to a personal injury, leaving Merab Dvalishvili waiting for his RAF debut. Cejudo said the injury is personal and won’t be disclosed, apologizing to Dvalishvili and thanking Real American Freestyle; RAF also announced the signing of Khamzat Chimaev, while noting Cejudo’s UFC retirement after a loss to Payton Talbott.
Henry Cejudo withdrew from RAF 8 due to an undisclosed injury, canceling his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili. Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber is promoted to the main event, while Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan moves to co-main. Dvalishvili won’t compete, and RAF 8 proceeds from Philadelphia’s Liacouras Center, streaming on FOX Nation, with the rest of the lineup remaining unchanged.
Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from his freestyle wrestling main event against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF08 due to an injury, canceling the bout. Dvalishvili remains set to pursue a UFC rematch with Petr Yan, while the card shifts headliners to Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber with Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan as the co-main. RAF08 airs at 8 p.m. EST on FOX Nation, and there are no disclosed details on the injury or any reschedule yet.
Merab Dvalishvili headlines RAF 8 in Philadelphia against former UFC champ Henry Cejudo, a rematch following Dvalishvili’s unanimous-decision win over Cejudo at UFC 298; co-main Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber, plus a full undercard, airs on FOX Nation at 8 p.m. ET.