Henry Cejudo Gets His Revenge on Merab Dvalishvili; Now He Wants Trilogy

Back in 2024 at UFC 298, when Merab Dvalishvili bested Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo via decision, many pundits saw it as the end of an era. Cejudo was returning from a lengthy hiatus, and the Georgian made sure the defeat stung for quite some time.

But no expert could have foreseen the RAF duels that would follow. The first, much like their UFC bout, ended with Dvalishvili's hand raised despite "Triple C" drawing first blood and appearing poised to cruise to a thumping win. However, when the two met again at RAF 12, Cejudo made sure the world witnessed what he could do when the tables were turned.

Cejudo shot in early, unwound “The Machine” and finished the job with a pin before the opening period had truly settled in. Now, with their RAF rivalry sitting at 1-1, Cejudo isn't looking to move on. He apparently wants the rubber match, maybe more than his Georgian rival.

Cejudo Welcomes the Idea of a Third Fight After RAF 12 Redemption

Their first meeting proved to be a painful lesson for Cejudo. The former two-division UFC champion appeared to be cruising after building an early 8-0 advantage against Dvalishvili in their first RAF wrestling match. But the momentum gradually shifted as exhaustion set in.

Dvalishvili, akin to his relentless, pressure-heavy style, kept coming. By the end, Cejudo's lead had vanished, and the Georgian completed an improbable comeback to win 11-8. That loss clearly stayed with Cejudo.

When the two men met again at Cleveland's Rocket Arena for RAF 12 on Saturday, the veteran made sure history would not repeat itself. Cejudo (39) secured an early takedown, quickly recognized his opponent's vulnerable position, and went straight for the finish.

With Dvalishvili's shoulders pinned to the mat, the referee stepped in after just 36 seconds. It was the perfect redemption, and in Cejudo's mind, the perfect setup for a third meeting.

"I've been wrestling since I was a kid but that doesn't mean anything," Cejudo told MMA Fighting after the bout. "It's humbling but I'm excited for the trilogy."

Fighters Going on Different Paths After RAF 12

While the veteran welcomed the idea of a trilogy, Dvalishvili has also indicated he would be open to settling the score in a third match. However, it appears Dvalishvili's attention is on his upcoming UFC 333 title clash with Petr "No Mercy" Yan.

In addition, Cejudo has his own side quests before any trilogy can materialize, with a boxing match against Deen the Great awaiting him under the Misfits Boxing banner. 

Henry Cejudo Says Discipline Made the Difference After First Loss

To say the least, the rematch wasn't simply about getting revenge. For Cejudo, it was about confronting the reason he lost the first time. Following his first loss to Dvalishvili, he didn't point fingers at officials or his opponent, or pin it on bad luck. 

Instead, like what any seasoned champion would do, Cejudo looked inward and acknowledged that his conditioning had let him down.

Reflecting on the same, Cejudo said, "When I'm in shape, and I think Izzy (Martinez) said it, we were on the phone one time and (he said) 'when Henry's in shape, no one will beat him... this kid is good, I took that to heart."

In fact, after losing to Dvalishvili in Georgia, Cejudo headed to Amsterdam and New York, spending roughly six weeks perfecting his craft, focusing on getting back into proper wrestling shape.

"I just dedicated myself for a whole month and a half," he explained. "After getting beat up by Merab in Georgia, I've just got to stay disciplined and dedicated."

Ball in RAF's Court for Potential Trilogy Fight

Furthermore, the ex-UFC champion admitted as much, saying he wasn't shocked that Dvalishvili had beaten him the first time. He added, "For 13 years, I've been here (doing MMA), on my feet doing X, Y and Z. And if the dude has a better gas tank than me and knows how to push the pace, he'll beat anybody. Particularly if you're not in it and wrestling."

Now, with the score even, the only question left is whether the RAF will book the two former UFC rivals for one last bout