At the RAF 8 press conference, Henry Cejudo attempted to engage in trash talk with Merab Dvalishvili using Russian language. Dvalishvili responded by correcting Cejudo, stating "Bratan, I'm Georgian." The exchange appears to be part of promotional build-up for an upcoming event. Cejudo has been known for his colorful promotional tactics throughout his career. The interaction drew reactions from fans in attendance at the press conference.
Henry Cejudo found himself in an awkward promotional moment at the RAF 8 press conference on April 18, when his attempt to needle Merab Dvalishvili in Russian was swiftly shut down by the Georgian fighter, who responded simply: "Bratan, I'm Georgian."
Cejudo, nicknamed "Triple C," is a 39-year-old American fighter currently ranked ninth in the UFC bantamweight division. He carries a professional record of 16-6 and has long leaned on flamboyant trash talk and theatrical antics as part of his promotional identity. Fighting out of Fight Ready in an orthodox stance, Cejudo stands five-foot-four with a 64-inch reach and lands 3.82 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy.
Dvalishvili, by contrast, is all business between the ropes. The 35-year-old Georgian known as "The Machine" sits at number one in the bantamweight rankings and sits second on the pound-for-pound ladder, holding a 21-5 record while training out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. At five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, Dvalishvili is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the division, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.33 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Cejudo is ranked ninth, Dvalishvili first — any matchup between them would carry significant divisional weight at 135 pounds.
- The language mix-up underscores how Cejudo's promotional style can sometimes misfire, potentially handing the mental edge to his opponent.
- Dvalishvili's calm, pointed correction kept the crowd moment firmly in his favor without any escalation.
