Two major bouts have been confirmed for RAF Georgia on July 11: Sadulayev faces Gordon Ryan's teammate Snyder, while Merab Dvalishvili meets Henry Cejudo.
Two high-profile matchups have been locked in for RAF Georgia on July 11, with the promotion announcing a pair of bouts that carry significant weight in both combat sports and mixed martial arts. Alongside a grappling contest between Gadzhimurad Sadulayev and Kyle Snyder, UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili will step into action against former two-division champion Henry Cejudo.
Dvalishvili enters the fight as the top-ranked bantamweight in the UFC and sits second in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 35-year-old Georgian holds a professional record of 21 wins and 5 losses and trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. Standing five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, "The Machine" is one of the most relentless grapplers in the division, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also generates volume on the feet, landing 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," comes in ranked ninth at bantamweight and carries a record of 16-6. The 39-year-old American, who trains with Fight Ready, stands five-foot-four with a 64-inch reach. A former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and a two-time UFC champion, he averages 3.82 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and contributes 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes. At this stage of his career he remains a recognizable and credible name at 135 pounds.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the bantamweight division's top-ranked contender, making any performance a statement heading toward a title shot.
- A strong showing by Cejudo could push the ninth-ranked veteran back into championship conversations at 135 pounds.
- The contrasting styles — Dvalishvili's suffocating takedown volume against Cejudo's wrestling base and veteran striking — set up a compelling matchup on the mat and on the feet.
- The event also features a high-profile grappling bout between Sadulayev and Gordon Ryan teammate Kyle Snyder, underlining the card's ambition across disciplines.
