All articles tagged with #raf wrestling
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 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.
Colby Covington defeated Arman Tsarukyan 5-3 to win the inaugural RAF crossover belt in Milwaukee, leveraging an early 3-0 lead and stout defense to mute Tsarukyan’s offense, then praised his opponent and floated future opponents such as Belal Muhammad and Khamzat Chimaev.
At RAF11, Colby Covington defeated Arman Tsarukyan to hand him his first loss since 2022, while Belal Muhammad rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Ben Askren. After the event, Muhammad and Covington traded trash talk and escalated into a physical altercation on stage, though officials restrained them and the conference concluded without further incident.
Colby Covington defeated Arman Tsarukyan 5-3 to win the RAF Crossover world title at RAF 11 in Milwaukee, racing to a 3-0 lead before Tsarukyan rallied to 5-3; it was Tsarukyan’s first defeat in over four years, and Covington framed the bout as a showcase of cross-promotional MMA.
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.
Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dillon Danis with a sub-50-second tech fall at RAF10, but when Danis held on after the bell, Chimaev kicked out and a chaotic brawl ensued with teammates rushing the mat; the referee restored order and ruled Chimaev the winner.
RAF wrestler Georgio Poullas was arrested in Delray Beach, Florida on a felony aggravated battery charge after allegedly slamming the groom's brother onto a glass coffee table during a bachelor party; the victims were treated for injuries, Poullas was booked around 3:55 a.m. on June 6 and released on a $1,500 bond, and he’s due back in court July 9. His RAF profile includes bouts with Arman Tsarukyan.
Arman Tsarukyan edged Georgio Poullas with a late four-point move to win their rematch, while Colby Covington overwhelmed Dillon Danis 14-4 in the co-main, as RAF Wrestling’s RAF7 card unfolded with live updates from the Bloody Elbow blog.
A planned March 11 grappling rematch between Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas was canceled by RAF officials, despite Poullas pushing for a future rematch under the RAF banner; the pull-back delays any immediate sequel as Tsarukyan's UFC title prospects remain a topic of discussion.
Georgio Poullas has withdrawn from the planned grappling rematch with Arman Tsarukyan at Hype Brazil on March 11 in Rio de Janeiro after a post-fight melee; RAF officials say the rematch is unfinished business and should take place on the RAF stage, though no new date or location has been announced.
Arman Tsarukyan sparked a chaotic on-stage brawl at RAF06 in Arizona by punching his opponent and drawing Colby Covington into the melee; RAF Wrestling founders Eric Bischoff and Chad Bronstein responded by saying the incident wasn’t planned, will be reviewed, and while controversy can draw attention, they aim to keep the promotion family-friendly and prevent repeats.
Arman Tsarukyan’s RAF Wrestling win over Georgio Poullas ended in a chaotic brawl after Tsarukyan attacked Poullas with punches and a knee, prompting corners and even Colby Covington to intervene. The incident fuels ongoing debate about Tsarukyan’s suitability for a UFC lightweight title shot, given his controversial antics outside the octagon.