Merab Dvalishvili will headline RAF Georgia against Henry Cejudo on July 11 at Tbilisi Arena, putting “The Machine” in front of a home-country crowd for one of RAF’s biggest cards yet.
Dvalishvili last appeared for the promotion at RAF 9, where he ran through Frankie Edgar by 12-1 tech fall and called for Cejudo afterward. The new booking sends that matchup to Tbilisi as RAF moves outside North America for the first time.
The pairing carries UFC history. Dvalishvili defeated Cejudo by unanimous decision at UFC 298 in February 2024, using pace, chain wrestling, and heavy top pressure. Cejudo won Olympic freestyle gold at 55 kg in 2008 before becoming UFC champion at flyweight and bantamweight.
Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Kyle Snyder, both Olympic gold medalists, are booked for the co-main event. The lineup includes Olympic silver medalist Givi Matcharashvili against two-time NCAA All-American Zach Elam, with Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion Geno Petriashvili listed among the confirmed competitors. Arman Tsarukyan is attached to the July 11 card while he remains linked to his upcoming RAF 11 match with Colby Covington.
Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo. Snyder vs. Sadulaev. 🤯
Georgia hosts our biggest event yet. Tickets coming soon at the link in bio. pic.twitter.com/qfAuSSDBBz
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) June 3, 2026
Dvalishvili Gets The Georgia Spotlight After Cejudo’s Earlier RAF Withdrawal
Dvalishvili and Cejudo were previously booked for RAF 08 in Philadelphia, but Cejudo withdrew on match day because of an undisclosed injury. RAF adjusted that card, Dvalishvili later handled Edgar, and the promotion now gets the same matchup in a location built for Dvalishvili’s crowd.
Chad Bronstein, RAF’s CEO and co-founder, framed Georgia as the right place to start the promotion’s international push.
“Wrestling has always been a global sport. What it has lacked is a global platform,” Bronstein said. “RAF was built to change that. Georgia is home to some of the greatest wrestlers in the world and one of the proudest wrestling cultures anywhere. We couldn’t imagine a better place to launch our international expansion.”
Dvalishvili was born in Georgia and trained in traditional Georgian wrestling, judo, sambo, and other combat styles before moving to the United States and building his MMA career under the Serra-Longo team. His UFC style is volume, pressure, scrambles, and cardio that makes opponents look like they are trapped in a washing machine.
Tevdore Makashvilli, RAF Georgia country lead, pointed to that larger wrestling culture when explaining why the event landed in Tbilisi.
“Wrestling is part of Georgia’s identity, and there is no better place for RAF to launch its international expansion — the energy, passion, and tradition of wrestling make this the perfect place,” Makashvilli said. “Our athletes have spent decades proving themselves on the Olympic and world stage, and now RAF is bringing a new level of opportunity, visibility, and excitement to the sport. This event will showcase some of the best wrestlers in the world in front of one of the most passionate wrestling fan bases anywhere. We’re proud to partner with RAF — it’s a statement about where the sport is headed, and we’re excited for Georgia to help lead that future.”
The July 11 card has Dvalishvili in Georgia, Cejudo’s Olympic gold medal background, Sadulaev vs. Snyder for the hardcore mat crowd, and Tsarukyan on the lineup. Tbilisi gives RAF a strong market for testing its freestyle format in front of fans who know the sport.
