Merab Dvalishvili can have a house nation benefit in his second match with the Royal Air Power towards a well-recognized foe.
Forward of RAF 9 in Dallas this previous weekend, a promotion consultant confirmed to MMA Preventing that RAF will maintain its first worldwide event, which will likely be held on July eleventh in Georgia. The cardboard will happen on the Tbilisi Enviornment, with Dvalishvili dealing with off towards Henry Cejudo in the primary occasion.
The pair have been scheduled to fulfill at RAF 8 in April, however Cejudo suffered an damage late within the match. Dvalishvili earned a shot on the UFC bantamweight title by defeating Cejudo by unanimous choice at UFC 298 in February 2024.
Dvalishvili will now compete in his residence nation.
“It is a dream come true,” Dvalishvili instructed MMA Preventing. “It has been a very long time. We have been attempting to carry the UFC to Georgia, and bringing the RAF to Georgia feels just about the identical. That is nice for my nation. Wrestling is a giant sport in my nation. … So my nation will certainly be excited. For me, for Zivi (Matchala Sibir) … for the opposite athletes, it will likely be a great alternative to symbolize our nation, our nation.”
“That is massive. It is actually massive.”
The battle between Olympic gold medalist and world champion Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sudulaev will likely be held because the co-main occasion.
Matcharashbir will face two-time NCAA champion Zach Elam on the cardboard, whereas Geno Petriashbir will face American Prime Workforce wrestling coach and former Dan Hodge Trophy winner Steve Mocco. Arman Tsarukyan can also be scheduled for the Georgian Air Power, and his opponent will likely be revealed quickly. Tsarukyan will headline the next week at RAF 11 towards Colby Covington.
Broadcast content material will likely be launched at a later date.
For RAF co-founders Chad Bronstein and Izzy Martinez, increasing abroad inside a full yr of selling the corporate got here as no shock; in truth, it had been the group’s aim from the start.
“Izzy and I share the identical message. We wished to do that from day one,” mentioned RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein. “Izzy was in Croatia virtually a yr in the past, and I do not assume I am going to ever overlook that. Then he was like, ‘Chad, are you able to go worldwide?'” We wished to do worldwide work, however I feel it is nice for us to listen to in regards to the significance of wrestling in Georgia. Once more, in terms of RAF, our aim is to not impose American wrestling on Georgia, however to really develop RAF Georgia.
“So for us, I feel this can be a sport of respect, and we need to go to a rustic that respects the tradition and loves wrestling.”
Dvalishvili joined the world of Olympic gold medalists together with his win over Cejudo within the UFC. Dvalishvili earned a tech fall win over Frankie Edgar in his promotional debut at RAF 9 final weekend, whereas Cejudo defeated Urijah Faber by tech fall in his debut at RAF 6 in February.
He is excited to bounce again towards Cejudo earlier than “The Machine” will get an opportunity to regain the UFC bantamweight title towards Petr Yan later this yr.
“I beat him in combined martial arts, however now I am competing in his sport,” Dvalishvili mentioned. “In fact he has (higher) probabilities in wrestling. … However beating Henry Cejudo in wrestling will likely be my subsequent aim.”
