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Share on FacebookReal American Freestyle (RAF) made its spectacular international debut on Saturday, July 11, 2026, delivering one of the most unforgettable moments in recent wrestling history. Headlining the blockbuster card at the Tbilisi Arena in Georgia, hometown favorite and former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili overcame a seemingly insurmountable deficit to defeat Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo in a thrilling 11-8 wrestling showcase.
The bout began in disastrous fashion for Dvalishvili as Cejudo, an elite master of the mat, wasted no time establishing his dominance. Utilizing a ruthless gut wrench, "Triple C" rapidly racked up exposed points to storm out to a commanding 8-0 lead in the first period, leaving the local crowd in stunned silence. With freestyle wrestling rules leaving him just two points away from a technical fall loss, the night looked all over for the Georgian icon.
What followed was a masterclass in elite conditioning and unyielding resolve. Known in the combat sports world as "The Machine" for his bottomless gas tank, Dvalishvili found a second gear as the 39-year-old Cejudo began to visibly fatigue under the relentless pressure. Merab broke onto the scoreboard with a sharp single-leg takedown in the second period to close the gap to 8-5 before pressuring Cejudo across the mat in the final frame. Dvalishvili forced a shot clock advantage to sneak ahead 9-8 and ultimately sealed the spectacular triumph with a final takedown to complete an incredible 11-point unanswered streak.
The spectacular victory marks Dvalishvili’s second athletic triumph over Cejudo, whom he previously defeated by unanimous decision inside the UFC Octagon back in 2024. While Cejudo proved he still possesses world-class technique early, he simply could not match the chaotic pace of a prime opponent. The historic comeback closed out a highly successful night for local athletes, which also saw Georgian icons Geno Petriashvili and Givi Matcharashvili secure dominant victories on home soil.
