MERAB DVALISHVILI AND HENRY CEJUDO SET FOR WRESTLING SHOWDOWN IN GEORGIA

Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo are running it back.

This time, however, there will be no cage, no striking and no submissions.

The former UFC bantamweight champions are set to meet in a freestyle wrestling match on July 11 at RAF Georgia, the first international event for Real American Freestyle.

The matchup will take place at Tbilisi Arena in Dvalishvili’s home country of Georgia.

Dvalishvili and Cejudo previously met inside the Octagon at UFC 298 in 2024. Dvalishvili earned the unanimous decision victory that night, using the relentless pace and wrestling pressure that eventually helped carry him to the UFC bantamweight championship.

Of course, meeting Cejudo in a wrestling match is an entirely different challenge.

Before becoming a two-division UFC champion, Cejudo captured an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Both men also enter the matchup with previous RAF experience. Dvalishvili earned a victory over fellow former UFC champion Frankie Edgar, while Cejudo defeated longtime rival Urijah Faber in his promotional debut.

The matchup was originally scheduled to take place at RAF 8 before Cejudo withdrew due to injury.

Now the two former UFC champions will finally meet again, and this time Dvalishvili will have the opportunity to test his wrestling against an Olympic champion in front of his home country.

For combat sports fans, it’s an interesting rematch.

For grappling fans, it’s an even better question.

What happens when one of MMA’s most relentless wrestlers meets one of the most accomplished wrestlers ever to enter the UFC?

We’re about to find out.