# RAF 12

RAF 12 (also billed as Dvalishvili vs Cejudo 2) was a professional freestyle wrestling event produced by the [Real American Freestyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-american-freestyle) (RAF) promotion, held on August 22, 2026, at [Rocket Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/rocket-arena) in Cleveland, Ohio.<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> The card marked the one-year anniversary of RAF's launch and returned the promotion to the city where its debut event, [RAF 01](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-01), had taken place in August 2025.<sup>[2](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/burroughs-to-make-real-american-freestyle-debut-at-raf-12-r101066/)</sup> In the main event, Henry Cejudo pinned Merab Dvalishvili in 36 seconds to win the lightweight title.<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | August 22, 2026, Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> |
| Occasion | RAF's one-year anniversary card and its first Cleveland event since RAF 01<sup>[2](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/burroughs-to-make-real-american-freestyle-debut-at-raf-12-r101066/)</sup> |
| Main event | Henry Cejudo pinned Merab Dvalishvili in 36 seconds to win the lightweight title<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> |
| Co-main event | Jordan Burroughs defeated Sean Brady by 11-0 technical fall at cruiserweight in his RAF debut<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> |
| Card size | 12 bouts<sup>[3](https://rafwrestling.org/results/)</sup> |
| Broadcast | Fox Nation, which holds exclusive streaming rights to RAF events<sup>[4](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/raf-wrestling-hulk-hogan-tickets)</sup> |
| Attendance outlook | RAF expected as many as 10,000 attendees, against 2,400 at its inaugural event<sup>[4](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/raf-wrestling-hulk-hogan-tickets)</sup> |

## Background

Real American Freestyle is an unscripted professional freestyle wrestling promotion founded in 2025 by [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland) native Chad Bronstein with business partner [Hulk Hogan](https://www.edgepedia.org/hulk-hogan), who died of a heart attack shortly before the promotion's first event.<sup>[4](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/raf-wrestling-hulk-hogan-tickets)</sup> Its bouts use modified freestyle rules: three two-minute periods, a technical fall at a 10-point lead, no overtime, and individual matches rather than teams or brackets.<sup>[5](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/)</sup>

RAF 12 was announced as the anniversary card in June 2026, when the promotion signed [Jordan Burroughs](https://www.edgepedia.org/jordan-burroughs), a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and six-time World champion, for his RAF debut against UFC welterweight contender [Sean Brady](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-brady-fighter).<sup>[2](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/burroughs-to-make-real-american-freestyle-debut-at-raf-12-r101066/)</sup> The main event was a rematch: Dvalishvili and Cejudo, both former UFC champions, had met at [RAF Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-georgia) in Tbilisi the month before.<sup>[6](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/events-gallery)</sup> An Axios preview published days before the event described it as RAF's 13th showcase, while the promotion and results databases number it RAF 12.<sup>[4](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/raf-wrestling-hulk-hogan-tickets)</sup>

## Main event and co-main

**Cejudo vs Dvalishvili 2.** Cejudo won the main event by pinning Dvalishvili 36 seconds into the first period, capturing the lightweight title.<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> Recap coverage described the belt as the inaugural RAF Lightweight Crossover Championship.<sup>[7](https://rafinsider.com/raf-12-results-cejudo-dvalishvili-recap/)</sup>

**Burroughs vs Brady.** Burroughs, returning to freestyle competition after a two-year layoff, needed less than two periods to beat Brady. A step-out put him on the board first, then he scored a five-point double-leg takedown and added pushouts to end the first period ahead 7-0. He opened the second period with a four-point takedown to reach the 11-point technical-fall margin at 12 seconds into the period.<sup>[8](https://www.mmafighting.com/raf-wrestling/506577/raf-12-results-jordan-burroughs-slams-sean-brady-before-winning-11-0-shutout-victory)</sup> After the match, Burroughs said he had signed a three-match deal with RAF and would compete at [RAF Moscow](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-moscow) on September 5.<sup>[8](https://www.mmafighting.com/raf-wrestling/506577/raf-12-results-jordan-burroughs-slams-sean-brady-before-winning-11-0-shutout-victory)</sup>

## Full results

The card consisted of 12 bouts.<sup>[3](https://rafwrestling.org/results/)</sup>

- Men's Lightweight (title match): [Henry Cejudo](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-cejudo) def. [Merab Dvalishvili](https://www.edgepedia.org/merab-dvalishvili) by fall, 0:36<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Cruiserweight: Jordan Burroughs def. Sean Brady by technical fall, 11-0<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Heavyweight: [Gable Steveson](https://www.edgepedia.org/gable-steveson) def. Anthony Cassioppi by decision, 6-0, preserving his unbeaten RAF record<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Women's Catchweight: Kennedy Blades def. Reese Larramendy by technical fall, 11-0, improving to 4-0 in RAF competition<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Light Heavyweight: Max McEnelly def. Bo Nickal by decision, 3-2, earning Performance of the Night honors<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Middleweight (title match): Jason Nolf def. Evan Wick by technical fall, 11-1<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Featherweight: Jesse Mendez def. Vladimer Khinchegashvili by decision, 7-2<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Welterweight (title match): David Carr def. Tajmuraz Salkazanov by decision, 6-4, retaining his title<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Featherweight: Johnni Dijulius def. Asu Almabayev by technical fall, 10-0, also earning Performance of the Night honors<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Middleweight: Kadik def. Will Lewan by medical forfeit; Lewan was injured in the opening round and unable to continue<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Cruiserweight: Tyron Woodley def. Joaquin Buckley by decision, 14-8, erasing an 8-1 deficit by outscoring Buckley 13-0 over the final two rounds<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>
- Men's Bantamweight: Masanosuke Ono def. Ben Davino by decision, 4-0<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>

Larramendy took the women's catchweight match on short notice after Diana Avsaragova withdrew on the day of the event due to illness.<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> Blades opened with four points, led 7-0 after the first period, and secured the technical fall with a four-point takedown in the opening ten seconds of the second.<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup>

## Aftermath

The promotion's next event, RAF Moscow, followed on September 5, 2026, headlined by [Tyron Woodley](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyron-woodley) and [Khamzat Chimaev](https://www.edgepedia.org/khamzat-chimaev), with Burroughs, Nolf, Nickal, and [Kennedy Blades](https://www.edgepedia.org/kennedy-blades) among those announced for title matches.<sup>[1](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)</sup> Burroughs went on to lose his next RAF bout, a 7-5 decision to Michael Caliendo at RAF 14 in Las Vegas on October 23, 2026.<sup>[9](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/october/24/caliendo-stuns-burroughs-in-middleweight-showdown-lovett-wins-lightweight-title-at-raf-14)</sup>

## References

1. [Jordan Burroughs Returns With Dominant Win at Real American Freestyle 12, National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Zack Chavez, USA Wrestling)](https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/news/jordan-burroughs-returns-with-dominant-win-at-real-american-freestyle-12)
2. [Burroughs to Make Real American Freestyle Debut at RAF 12, InterMat (June 11, 2026)](https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/burroughs-to-make-real-american-freestyle-debut-at-raf-12-r101066/)
3. [RAF Wrestling Results: Every Real American Freestyle Event, rafwrestling.org](https://rafwrestling.org/results/)
4. [Real American Freestyle wrestling eyes growth after fast first year, Axios Cleveland (August 19, 2026)](https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/raf-wrestling-hulk-hogan-tickets)
5. [RAF Wrestling Rules: Real American Freestyle Scoring & Format, rafwrestling.org](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/)
6. [Events, Real American Freestyle](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/events-gallery)
7. [RAF 12 Results: Cejudo Pins Dvalishvili in 36 Seconds, Rafinsider](https://rafinsider.com/raf-12-results-cejudo-dvalishvili-recap/)
8. [RAF 12 results: Jordan Burroughs slams Sean Brady before winning 11-0 shutout victory, MMA Fighting (Damon Martin, August 23, 2026)](https://www.mmafighting.com/raf-wrestling/506577/raf-12-results-jordan-burroughs-slams-sean-brady-before-winning-11-0-shutout-victory)
9. [Caliendo stuns Burroughs in middleweight showdown; Lovett wins lightweight title at RAF 14, USA Wrestling (October 24, 2026)](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/october/24/caliendo-stuns-burroughs-in-middleweight-showdown-lovett-wins-lightweight-title-at-raf-14)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Amateur and collegiate wrestling*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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