RAF12 Recap - One Year Down, Many to Come

The Cleveland crowd gave RAF everything they had and the RAF12 athletes gave it all back. Cejudo took one back from Merab in decisive fashion, Max McEnelly had his coming-out party, Johnni DiJulius blanked Asu Almabayev in front of his home crowd, Tyron Woodley stormed back and much, much more.

It was an instant classic and while it felt like the perfect cap to an unforgettable first year, we’ve only just begun.

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Henry Cejudo vs Merab Dvalishvili - Sweet Revenge

Few have had Henry Cejudo’s number regardless of the sport. His career began with an Olympic gold medal at only 21 years old, his UFC title run began by defeating arguably the greatest fighter of all time and his RAF run promises to be just as prolific.

After a debut victory over Urijah Faber, Cejudo went behind enemy lines to face Merab Dvalishvili in his home country. Just as he did at UFC 298, Dvalishvili would defeat Cejudo but at RAF12, Cejudo’s gameplan would completely change.

Cejudo opened the match with finishing on his mind from the opening whistle. With 1:34 to go in the first, “Triple C” landed an exposure takedown for a quick four points. Only ten seconds later, however, Cejudo 10x-ed the crowd reaction by pinning Dvalishvili and returning every single person in the crowd’s primal scream.

It’s one of the most fun rivalries in combat sports and on the freestyle mat, they’re all knotted up at 1-1.

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Jordan Burroughs vs Sean Brady - An Ambassador’s Return

One of the most decorated men in the history of combat sports is back with one final mountain to climb. At 38 years old, the only gold Jordan Burroughs hasn’t hoisted is an RAF title. He’d welcome himself to the promotion by taking on a wrestle-first UFC title contender who holds one of the biggest strength advantages Burroughs has faced.

Burroughs hasn’t laced up the shoes in two years and proved he was still comfortable on the mat by quickly getting to work against Brady.

Burroughs scored a push out point almost immediately. Less than 30 seconds later he landed a 5-point takedown that had the crowd out of their seats. Burroughs notched one more push out point before the period ended giving him a 7-0 advantage after 1.

In search of 3 more points and one final pop, Burroughs landed his patented blast-double that the crowd paid to see and with the exposure, was able to close out the match by a tech fall victory.

The crowd won’t have to wait long to see wrestling’s favorite ambassador back in action as he takes on Worlds Gold Medalist Magomed Kurbanaliev at RAF MOSCOW on September 5.

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Gable Steveson vs Tony Cassioppi - Business As Usual

Gable Steveson took on Tony Cassioppi for a sixth time looking to prove he’s still the guy to see in the heavyweight division. Cassioppi has never physically looked better but as it always has been, it was all Steveson.Steveson closed out the first period with a 1-0 lead thanks to a shot clock point. Cassioppi held Steveson’s offense still for much of the second surrendering only a pushout point and shot clock point but still trailing 3-0 going into the third.

Steveson opened up the scoring in the third period with another push out point. The anticipatory crowd began getting restless but Steveson would give the crowd the offense they were looking for and seal the matchup with a late takedown to win the sixth meeting with Cassioppi by a score of 6-0.

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Kennedy Blades vs Reese Larramendy - (Another) Flawless Victory

Kennedy Blades has faced some of the most talented women in the world at RAF and walked out unscathed every time. Add her RAF12 title defense against Reese Larramendy to the list.

Less than 20 seconds into the match, Blades took Larramendy down before cutting her loose. Still heavy on the trail, she scored another takedown less than 30 seconds later and yet again less than 30 seconds after that. With 10 seconds remaining in the period she scored a push out point to take a 7-0 lead into the second.

In less than ten seconds, Blades landed a four-point exposure takedown and secured yet another flawless victory by way of 11-0 tech fall.

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‍Max McEnelly vs Bo Nickal - “There’s a New Star in This Organization”

Max McEnelly didn’t even have time to come off the mat after winning his 2026 NCAA National Championship before Bo Nickal challenged him to an RAF match on X. McEnelly took a shot back and accepted and proved that he wasn’t an easy night out for anybody.

Nickal took a 1-0 lead into the second period that McEnelly erased with 1:17 left in the second when he scored a takedown over the 3-time NCAA National Champion. He would take a 3-1 lead into the third and final period.

Nickal was on the hunt, offensively and forced a defensive McEnelly to surrender a shot clock point to push the score to 3-2 with less than a minute remaining.

Nickal would push for late offense but ultimate fall to McEnelly who would tell Chael Sonnen and the Cleveland crowd, “there’s a new star in this organization.”

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Jason Nolf vs Evan Wick - Match of the Night

One year after a high-scoring title matchup to crown Real American Freestyle’s first Middleweight Champion, Evan Wick and Jason Nolf were back at it with Nolf poised to prove he’s the rightful suitor for the RAF strap.

After falling to Wick 10-8 at RAF01, Nolf had a different mindset going into the rematch with more offense and faster reads. The two felt each other out for over a minute and a half before Nolf would score a shot clock point and a buzzer-beating exposure takedown to carry a 5-0 lead into the second period.

The two would cancel each other out in the second with only a shot clock point for Wick being scored.

Ten seconds into the final period Nolf would take Wick down and score two gut wrenches to complete the 11-1 tech fall victory.

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Jesse Mendez vs Vladimer Khinchegashvili - The Warrior Pose

The Ohio State Buckeye had a lot on his plate in front of the Cleveland audience, but as he’s done for most of his career, Jesse Mendez put on for the home crowd.

Olympic silver medalist Vladimer Khinchegashvili thwarted much of the Mendez offense in the first but when Mendez scores, he scores big. With 40 seconds remaining he landed exposure points followed by a push out to give him a 5-1 lead after the first period.

Mendez was on the wrong end of a Khinchegashvili squeeze that led to a brief spell of unconsciousness. Mendez would come to and hold off Khinch to keep the score 5-1 to close out the second as well.

13 seconds into the final frame, Mendez and the crowd blew the roof off the building with a takedown that would ultimately spell the end for Khinch.

Mendez would win by a score of 7-2 and pose for the raucous crowd.

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David Carr vs Tajmuraj Salkazanov - Bend but Don’t Break

One of Cleveland’s adoptive sons was at it again when David Carr looked to defend his RAF title yet again this time against World silver medalist Tajmuraj Salkazanov.

The second period would begin with a 1-0 lead for Carr.

Salkazanov would utilize the edge of the mat and shot clock to take a 3-1 lead into the final period. 16 seconds into the third period, Carr would score a takedown and leg lace to give him a 5-3 lead. Salkazanov would tighten things up with a push out point but that’s where the offense would end.

A review at the end to decide if Carr’s defense warranted caution for Salkazanov would come up empty for the Russian who would watch the Iowa State Cyclone get his hand raised yet again.

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Johnni DiJulius vs Asu Almabayev - Win For Mom

Johnni DiJulius was wrestling for more than himself and the crowd seemed to know it as he went into his hometown matchup against Asu Almabayev.

More interested in soaking in the cheers than the time on the mat, DiJulius landed an immediate 4-point takedown followed by another takedown and match-sealing gut wrenches. He was on the mat for under 90 seconds and earned the biggest pop of his wrestling career.

The crowd let the athletes know, in this match, that they came to show out for the anniversary show and gave a little extra for DiJulius when he told them all the win was for his mother.

In addition to taking home the victory and the love from the crowd, DiJulius also claimed Performance of the Night honors.

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Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau vs Will Lewan - Lewan Injury Leads to Short Night

Mahamedkhabib “Kadik” Kadzimahamedau took Will Lewan down with 1:17 left in the first that appeared to tweak Lewan’s right hamstring.

The injury was temporarily shaken off and Kadik landed the night’s first high amplitude, 5-point throw. The first period, and subsequently the match, ended with an injury forfeit with Kadik ahead 7-0 at the time of the match being called.

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Tyron Woodley vs Joaquin Buckley - Match of the Night

With a main event showdown with Khamzat Chimaev just over the horizon at RAF MOSCOW, Tyron Woodley was looking to tighten the screws and ended up putting on match of the night.

The Mizzou Tiger turned UFC Welterweight champion got things started with a push out point 28 seconds into the match but Buckley would control the rest of the first. With 48 seconds left Buckley would secure exposure points and with only 9 seconds remaining notch four more points closing out the period by the score of 8-1.

With his back against the wall, Woodley went to work, scoring a push out point 45 seconds into the period. With 38 seconds remaining he scored another before closing the period with a takedown and gut wrench in the closing seconds to pull Buckley’s lead to 8-7.

Just inside of a minute remaining in the match Woodley landed a push out to tie the score at 8-8. Not satisfied with a criteria win, Woodley would score 4 exposure points and a takedown in the final ten seconds.

Battling all the way back from an 8-1 deficit, Woodley would win by a final score of 14-8 before confessing to the crowd, “I definitely needed this match.”

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Masanosuke Ono vs Ben Davino - Chapter One

Masanosuke Ono and Ben Davino will likely battle it out for king of the hill in the 133-pound division in NCAA’s for years to come and the Cleveland crowd knew they were seeing the first chapter of a very special rivalry.

The match was full of “feeling out” and defensive adjustments. Both men carry some of the division’s most impressive offensive weapons, it was going to take strong chess playing to avoid disaster.

The first period closed out 1-0 for Ono and while Davino stunted his best efforts to implement his snapdown’s, Ono was still able to close out the second with a 3-0 lead thanks to two more shot clock points.

In the final period Ono quickly scored a push out point to notch the final point of the match and take away a 4-0 win.

Ono is up 1-0 in the head-to-head but it’s far from over, possibly both on and off the RAF mat.

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It was a monumental night with one of the most lively, educated fanbases in attendance and one of the most game, “ready for war” crop of competitors. Kennedy Blades, Jason Nolf, Tyron Woodley and Jordan Burroughs put on some of the most unforgettable performances of their RAF careers and fans don’t have to wait long to see them top their performances.

They, as well as Bo Nickal, Kyle Dake, Kyle Snyder and much more will be planting their flag ito Russian soil in two short weeks.

Check out how we kick off year two Saturday, September 5!