RAF Georgia's Star-Studded Card Delivers

Real American Freestyle’s (RAF) first venture out of the United States proved to be a successful one on Saturday with the organization’s RAF Georgia card from Tbilisi, Georgia. The card had to be one of, if not the most, star-studden standalone events in modern wrestling history as 8 Olympic gold medalists took part in the competition. Two matches featured Olympic champions squaring off.

Oh, and one of the best rivalries in recent memory was renewed as Kyle Snyder defeated his light heavyweight belt against fellow Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Sadualev held a 4-3 lead early in the third period when Snyder got in on a low single and was close to converting the takedown. At that moment, Sadulaev winced in pain and rolled onto his back for a fall. This brings their career series to three matches to two, in favor of the Russian.

Snyder retained his championship belt, as did the other champions on the card, Kyle Dake and Helen Maroulis.

Many wrestling fans assumed the fireworks would come from Snyder and Sadulaev; however, the main event proved to be extremely exciting as Merab Dvalishvili downed Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, 11-8. Cejudo jumped out to a commanding 8-0 lead, but the hometown hero, Dvalishvili, scored 11 unanswered points to bring the Georgian crowd to its feet.

Middleweight (175 lbs) - Arman Tsarukyan vs. Kuat Khamitov  11-0

Featherweight (145 lbs) - Brock Hardy over Alibeg Alibegov 13-2

Women’s Bantamweight (130 lbs) - Anastasia Nichita over Sangeeta Phogat  7-6

Catchweight - Razambek Zhamalov over Jarrett Jacques  3-2

Women’s Bantamweight Championship (130 lbs) - Helen Maroulis over Anhelina Lysak  12-2

Heavyweight (UNL) - Geno Petriashvili over Jake Varner  10-0

Heavyweight (UNL) - Givi Matcharashvili over Zach Elam  7-3

Lightweight (155 lbs) - Ernazar Akmataliev over Zain Retherford  3-3

Featherweight (145 lbs) - Vladimer Khinchegashvili over Conor Beebe  11-0

Cruiserweight Championship (190 lbs) - Kyle Dake over Vladimeri Gamkrelidze  2-0

Light Heavyweight Championship (215 lbs) - Kyle Snyder over Abdulrashid Sadulaev  10-4

Lightweight (155 lbs) - Merab Dvalishvili over Henry Cejudo  11-8