RAF 12

RAF 12 brings the raw intensity of freestyle wrestling to Cleveland's Rocket Arena on August 22, 2026, with a card headlined by a rematch that fans have been clamoring for. The Real American Freestyle promotion, known for its no-frills approach and focus on pure athletic competition, pits two of the sport's most dynamic competitors against each other: Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo. The event marks the promotion's twelfth numbered show, and the buzz surrounding this main event suggests it could be their most electric night yet.

Dvalishvili, a relentless pressure wrestler with a gas tank that seems endless, has been on a tear in recent years, while Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist and former UFC champion, brings a level of technical wizardry and experience that few can match. Their first meeting was a closely contested battle, and the rematch promises to settle the score once and for all. With a stacked undercard featuring rising stars and seasoned veterans, RAF 12 is shaping up to be a must-watch for any wrestling purist. [edit]

RAF 12 is the twelfth numbered event from the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion, the first unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league in the United States, and it represents a landmark moment in the sport's professionalization. Scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 8:00 PM EST at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the event is positioned as the promotion's most ambitious card to date, featuring 13 bouts and an unprecedented concentration of elite talent drawn from Olympic wrestling, NCAA collegiate wrestling, and the UFC.

The RAF promotion was founded on a simple but revolutionary premise: professional freestyle wrestling, performed unscripted and at the highest competitive level, could stand on its own as a spectator sport. Unlike professional wrestling's scripted entertainment model or the cage-centric presentation of MMA, RAF presents pure, legitimate freestyle wrestling competition in a professional sports entertainment format, broadcast nationally on Fox Nation. The league positions itself as "wrestling's new main stage," attracting the sport's elite athletes who now have a professional home beyond the amateur ranks.

The main event of RAF 12 is the rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo, two of the most accomplished wrestlers of their generation. Dvalishvili, a 35-year-old Georgian-American from the Serra-Longo Fight Team with roots in Tbilisi, is renowned for his relentless pressure style and seemingly inexhaustible gas tank. Cejudo, now 39 and representing Fight Ready, is an Olympic gold medalist (2008) and former UFC champion in two weight classes, bringing unmatched technical sophistication and competitive experience to the mat. Their first meeting was a closely contested battle that left the wrestling world demanding a sequel, and RAF 12 delivers it with the inaugural RAF Lightweight Crossover Championship on the line.

The undercard is stacked with compelling matchups that span the full spectrum of wrestling's talent pool. Olympic gold medalist and current UFC heavyweight Gable Steveson, fresh off a first-round knockout of Elisha Ellison at UFC 329, returns to freestyle wrestling to face former college rival Anthony Cassioppi. A grudge match between Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad was initially booked following years of social media and interview warfare, though Covington later called it off after a tense confrontation. Sean Brady is set to face Jordan Burroughs, one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in American history, in a highly anticipated crossover bout. Kennedy Blades defends the RAF Middleweight Championship. Six active UFC fighters are scheduled to compete on the card, underscoring the deepening relationship between the two combat sports. The event also features rising stars and seasoned veterans across 13 total bouts, creating a full evening of competition.

RAF 12 serves as the promotion's anniversary showcase, celebrating its growth from a novel concept into a legitimate professional platform. The event's significance extends beyond individual matchups: it represents the culmination of RAF's mission to create a sustainable professional structure for freestyle wrestling, with championship belts, a defined competitive hierarchy, and a broadcast partnership that brings the sport to a national audience.[edit]