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Henry Cejudo needed only 36 seconds to settle the score with Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 12.
The former two division UFC champion delivered a dominant performance at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, August 22, quickly turning the rematch into one of the shortest contests on the card. Cejudo secured a four point throw early, trapped Dvalishvili’s right arm and forced his shoulders to the mat for the pinfall.
The victory also earned Cejudo the inaugural RAF lightweight crossover championship.
The result was a dramatic turnaround from their first RAF meeting in Georgia on July 11. Cejudo controlled the opening stages of that contest and built an 8 to 0 lead, but Dvalishvili mounted a remarkable comeback to win 11 to 8.
This time at RAF 12, Cejudo made sure the match never reached a similar stage.
A completely different performance from Cejudo
The biggest difference between the two meetings was Cejudo’s ability to finish the action before Dvalishvili could establish his trademark pace.
Cejudo immediately attacked the legs and created an opening before transitioning into the position that ended the contest. Once Dvalishvili’s arm became trapped, Cejudo applied pressure and secured the pin.
It was a particularly significant result for Cejudo because his first RAF defeat exposed a problem he openly acknowledged after the rematch. He had built a commanding lead before fading as Dvalishvili increased the pace.
Cejudo later explained that he spent around a month and a half dedicating himself to wrestling again in Amsterdam, New York. He also admitted that he had not been fully committed to wrestling for some time while concentrating on his MMA career.
That preparation appeared to make the difference at RAF 12.
Dvalishvili admits he lacked preparation
Dvalishvili did not make excuses for the defeat, but he acknowledged that his preparation for the rematch was limited.
Speaking after the event, Dvalishvili explained that his primary focus remained his UFC career and that he did not have enough time to properly prepare for a wrestling contest against Cejudo.
The Georgian said he normally spends about a week preparing for a RAF wrestling match alongside his regular training. Cejudo, meanwhile, had made the rematch a major priority after losing their first encounter.
The difference in preparation was significant.
Dvalishvili also made it clear that the defeat has not ended his interest in facing Cejudo again. He remains open to a third wrestling match, which would give both men a chance to settle the RAF rivalry once more.
Cejudo’s wrestling credentials remain elite
Cejudo’s performance should also be viewed in the context of his extraordinary wrestling background.
He won Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Games and became the youngest American Olympic wrestling champion at the time. He later transitioned into MMA and captured both the UFC flyweight and bantamweight championships.
Cejudo became the first Olympic gold medalist to simultaneously hold two UFC titles when he defeated Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight championship in 2019.
That background makes his RAF comeback particularly notable. While Cejudo spent much of his career focused on mixed martial arts, RAF has allowed him to return to the discipline that established his reputation before the UFC.
His 36 second victory over Dvalishvili showed that his wrestling ability remains highly relevant.
RAF 12 delivers several major results
Cejudo’s victory headlined an event filled with notable crossover matchups and championship performances.
Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs returned to competitive wrestling after a two year absence and defeated UFC welterweight Sean Brady by an 11 to 0 technical fall. Burroughs has signed a three match deal with RAF and is scheduled to compete against Magomed Kurbanaliev in Russia on September 5.
Gable Steveson also produced a controlled performance, defeating longtime rival Anthony Cassioppi 6 to 0. Steveson improved to 2 and 0 in RAF while remaining unbeaten against Cassioppi.
Another significant result came from Max McEnelly, who defeated UFC fighter and three time NCAA champion Bo Nickal 3 to 1. McEnelly’s victory represented an important moment for the next generation of American wrestling talent.
Kennedy Blades successfully defended her RAF women’s middleweight championship with an 11 to 0 technical fall, while Jason Nolf captured the middleweight championship after defeating Evan Wick 11 to 1.
Tyron Woodley also earned a decision victory over Joaquin Buckley, winning 14 to 8.
Full RAF 12 Results
- Henry Cejudo def. Merab Dvalishvili via pinfall, 36 seconds
- Jordan Burroughs def. Sean Brady via technical fall, 11-0
- Gable Steveson def. Anthony Cassioppi via points, 6-0
- Kennedy Blades def. Reese Larramendy via technical fall, 11-0
- Max McEnelly def. Bo Nickal via points, 3-2
- Jason Nolf def. Evan Wick via technical fall, 11-1
- Jesse Mendez def. Vladimer Khinchegashvili via points, 7-2
- David Carr def. Tajmuraz Salkazanov via points, 5-4
- Johnni DiJulius def. Asu Almabayev via technical fall, 10-0
- Kadik def. Will Lewan via injury
- Tyron Woodley def. Joaquin Buckley via points, 14-8
- Masanosuke Ono def. Ben Davino via points, 4-0
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