RAF Georgia on July 11 will feature Sadulayev against Snyder and Merab Dvalishvili against Henry Cejudo. The card shapes up as one of the most talent-rich events of the summer.
RAF Georgia on July 11 will host a pair of high-profile matchups, headlined by a contest between Abdulrashid Sadulayev and Kyle Snyder alongside a bantamweight clash between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo.
Dvalishvili enters as the clear frontrunner in divisional standing. The 35-year-old Georgian carries a 21-5 record and holds the number-one ranking in the bantamweight division, as well as the number-two spot on the pound-for-pound ladder. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, "The Machine" is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also produces 4.33 significant strikes per minute, making him a constant threat across all phases of a fight.
Cejudo, at 39, steps in ranked ninth at bantamweight and carries a 16-6 record under his "Triple C" banner. The American fighter out of Fight Ready is an accomplished grappler in his own right, averaging 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes. He lands 3.82 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, giving him respectable output on the feet as well.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the top-ranked contender in the division, making this a pivotal fight for the bantamweight pecking order
- A win for Cejudo at number nine against the division's top-ranked fighter would be a significant statement at age 39
- The styles present an intriguing contrast: Dvalishvili's high-volume wrestling against Cejudo's more measured, technical approach
- The card also features Sadulayev versus Snyder, adding further marquee appeal to what is shaping up as one of the standout events of the summer
