Henry Cejudo pins Merab Dvalishvili quickly at RAF 12
3 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Aug 23, 2026, 3:47 AM
Last updated Aug 23, 2026
Henry Cejudo secured a pinfall victory over Merab Dvalishvili just 36 seconds into their rematch at the RAF 12 event. The fight, held in Georgia, was a stark contrast to their first match, where Dvalishvili staged a comeback from an 8-0 deficit. Cejudo, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, executed a four-point takedown right at the start and kept Dvalishvili down to earn the win. Following the match, Cejudo expressed interest in defending his title and called out Cody Garbrandt. Dvalishvili, while disappointed, is focused on his upcoming trilogy fight with Petr Yan at UFC 333 in October but is open to a third match with Cejudo in the future.
- •Cejudo pins Dvalishvili 36 seconds into the match
- •Cejudo calls out Cody Garbrandt after the victory
- •Dvalishvili prepares for a trilogy fight against Petr Yan
- •Cejudo aims to defend his title soon
- 4:25 AMYahoo Sports — Highlights! Henry Cejudo exacts revenge, pins Merab Dvalishvili in 36 seconds
- 3:47 AMYahoo Sports — RAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo exacts 36-second revenge on Merab Dvalishvili
- 3:22 AMMMA Fighting — Henry Cejudo gets his revenge, pins Merab Dvalishvili in just 36 seconds in RAF 12 main event
- 3:22 AMYahoo Sports — Henry Cejudo gets his revenge, pins Merab Dvalishvili in just 36 seconds in RAF 12 main event
"Henry Cejudo made quite a statement in his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili in the RAF 12 main event. After traveling to Georgia for their first wrestling match where Cejudo was up 8-0 before Dvalishvili came storming back to get the win, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist had no interest in allowing the rematch to look anything like the first encounter. As soon as the match got started, Cejudo shot inside and scored a quick four-point takedown but then he immediately trapped Dvalishvili on the ground and the former UFC bantamweight champion was struggling to escape. Cejudo was quick to secure the position and he put Dvalishvili’s shoulders to the mat and that was enugh for the referee to score the pinfall victory. View this post on Instagram The end came just 36 seconds into the match. “Merab is a machine,” Cejudo said after his win. “I’ve been fighting for 13 years on my feet and I took the ‘L’ from him. I knew that he wasn’t necessarily scrambling … obviously I got the pin. Cody Garbrandt, you’re next bitch.” View this post on Instagram The win crowned Cejudo as the newest crossover champion for RAF and it sounds like he’s ready to defend his title sooner than later after calling out another former UFC champion. As for Dvalishvili, the night didn’t go his way but now he’ll turn his full attention towards his trilogy against Petr Yan set for the UFC 333 co-main event in October. But he’s definitely open for a third match against Cejudo at some point in the future. “Absoutely. I love challenges,” Dvalishvili said. “Henry Cejudo called me out and I said yes. He’s an Olympic champion for a reason. He beat me today. Let’s go for a trilogy in wrestling.”
"“Triple C” is back! Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) two-division champion Henry Cejudo got his revenge on former Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Real American Freestyle (RAF) 12 last night (Sat., Aug. 22, 2026) inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. And it didn’t take long. Cejudo needed only 20 seconds to […]
"Henry Cejudo scored a pinfall victory in the RAF 12 main event
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 23, 2026, 4:25 AMHighlights! Henry Cejudo exacts revenge, pins Merab Dvalishvili in 36 seconds
“Triple C” is back! Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) two-division champion Henry Cejudo got his revenge on former Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Real American Freestyle (RAF) 12 last night (Sat., Aug. 22, 2026) inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. And it didn’t take long. Cejudo needed only 20 seconds to […]
- Yahoo SportsAug 23, 2026, 3:47 AMRAF 12 results: Henry Cejudo exacts 36-second revenge on Merab Dvalishvili
Henry Cejudo made a statement at RAF 12.
- MMA FightingAug 23, 2026, 3:22 AMHenry Cejudo gets his revenge, pins Merab Dvalishvili in just 36 seconds in RAF 12 main event
Henry Cejudo made quite a statement in his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili in the RAF 12 main event. After traveling to Georgia for their first wrestling match where Cejudo was up 8-0 before Dvalishvili came storming back to get the win, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist had no interest in allowing the rematch to look anything like the first encounter. As soon as the match got started, Cejudo shot inside and scored a quick four-point takedown but then he immediately trapped Dvalishvili on the ground and the former UFC bantamweight champion was struggling to escape. Cejudo was quick to secure the position and he put Dvalishvili’s shoulders to the mat and that was enugh for the referee to score the pinfall victory. View this post on Instagram The end came just 36 seconds into the match. “Merab is a machine,” Cejudo said after his win. “I’ve been fighting for 13 years on my feet and I took the ‘L’ from him. I knew that he wasn’t necessarily scrambling … obviously I got the pin. Cody Garbrandt, you’re next bitch.” View this post on Instagram The win crowned Cejudo as the newest crossover champion for RAF and it sounds like he’s ready to defend his title sooner than later after calling out another former UFC champion. As for Dvalishvili, the night didn’t go his way but now he’ll turn his full attention towards his trilogy against Petr Yan set for the UFC 333 co-main event in October. But he’s definitely open for a third match against Cejudo at some point in the future. “Absoutely. I love challenges,” Dvalishvili said. “Henry Cejudo called me out and I said yes. He’s an Olympic champion for a reason. He beat me today. Let’s go for a trilogy in wrestling.”
- Yahoo SportsAug 23, 2026, 3:22 AMHenry Cejudo gets his revenge, pins Merab Dvalishvili in just 36 seconds in RAF 12 main event
Henry Cejudo scored a pinfall victory in the RAF 12 main event
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