Merab vs. Cejudo 3? Why Both Stars Want a Trilogy Match After RAF 12 Rematch
Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili will go up against each other at RAF 12 in what will be a rematch, and depending on the result, fans may get to see a trilogy fight too.
The rivalry between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo is expanding far beyond the Octagon. After battling it out at UFC 298, the two bantamweight stars are set to re-engage their wrestling roots in a high-stakes rematch under the RAF banner, and both combatants already agree that a trilogy match is inevitable regardless of how the grapple-heavy contest unfolds.
Their first encounter inside the Octagon at UFC 298 saw Dvalishvili dominate "Triple C" over three rounds, securing a unanimous decision victory behind five takedowns and relentless cardio pressure. But returning to pure wrestling gives Cejudo a chance to tap into the background that earned him an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
Humbled Roots and the Call for a Trilogy
For Henry Carlos Cejudo, losing to Dvalishvili in the Octagon served as a massive wake-up call regarding his preparation and focus.
"Wrestling, it doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, if you're not a 100% in it, anybody would beat you. F*ck dude I lost to Merab," Cejudo admitted when reflecting on their first clash. Looking ahead to the RAF 12 rematch in the United States, Cejudo made it clear he intends to turn the tables on home soil: "But this time MERAB! You're in my country and you're going down."
Despite Cejudo's determination to equalize the score, Merab Dvalishvili isn't backing away from the challenge. Holding a professional MMA record of 21-5, the Georgian powerhouse has established himself as one of the most durable and unrelenting grapplers in combat sports. Dvalishvili has already expressed openness to expanding their series into a full-fledged trilogy, recognizing the fan interest surrounding two elite wrestlers throwing down across different combat disciplines.
Former UFC featherweight champion Frankie Edgar weighed in on the matchup, noting that while Cejudo possesses the freestyle pedigree, Dvalishvili's motor and pace make him a threat in any rule set. With both athletes willing to run it back a third time, their RAF 12 battle serves as the second chapter in a growing combat sports rivalry.
If Cejudo manages to even the score on the wrestling mat, expectations will instantly shift toward settling the score once and for all in a rubber match, whether in the Octagon or on the mats.
