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A year ago, Real American Freestyle launched and brought new eyes to freestyle wrestling. Some of the best wrestlers, from collegiate to MMA stars, have faced off in epic contests. Some have become stars right in front of our eyes.
Now, the promotion is celebrating all it has accomplished in a short period with RAF 12, its first anniversary show. Back where it all started in Cleveland, the main event will see Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo.
Merab and Cejudo are two all-time greats. From the Olympics to the UFC, their combined records and accomplishments are otherworldly. It’s the third time they have faced off, and the second time under the RAF banner.
With Merab winning via a miraculous comeback in the first match on the mat, can he do so again in the rematch, this time for the RAF lightweight Crossover championship?
Also on the card, several top-tier wrestlers and MMA fighters compete. Jordan Burroughs, David Carr and Kennedy Blades will once again get a chance to shine, while former and current UFC stars Bo Nickal and Tyron Woodley will be in action. A massive crossover star, Gable Steveson will also compete at the event.
The Sporting News has got you covered with everything you need to know to bet on the event including odds, picks and predictions ahead of what should be a great night for RAF.
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How to bet on RAF 12
Betting on the Real American Freestyle (RAF 12) event is similar to betting on MMA or boxing. If the sport is offered by a licensed sportsbook in your jurisdiction, here’s what the step-by-step process will likely look like:
- Open an account with a licensed sportsbook that offers RAF markets (availability depends on where you live).
- Deposit funds
- Find the RAF 12 event in the sportsbook’s combat sports or wrestling section
- Select a market such as match winner, method of victory, total rounds/time or other prop bets if offered.
- Enter your stake, review the potential payout and confirm the wager.
MORE: Everything to know about betting on MMA
Best RAF sportsbook promos
DraftKings is the only major U.S. sportsbook currently offering odds for Real American Freestyle.
New users can claim a welcome bonus for $200 in bonuses if they bet $5 on the RAF 12 card. Existing users should always check frequently for additional promotions, as DraftKings will often offer profit boosts, odds boosts and other promotions.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo 2 odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Merab Dvalishvili | +110 |
| Henry Cejudo | -130 |
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo 2 prediction
Merab is one of the most dominant grapplers out there. In the UFC, he averages 5.97 takedowns landed per 15 minutes. He landed 20 against Cory Sandhagen. When he fought Cejudo in the cage in 2024, Merab landed five. An Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo’s career since his first retirement from the UFC has had its ups and downs. However, he’s still a top-tier grappler.
When they faced off at an RAF event in July, Cejudo got off to a fast start, exploding into a high gut-wrench and took a quick 8-0 lead. Merab didn’t surrender; he came back with single-leg takedowns and earned a thrilling 11-8 win. Can he get another win, or will Cejudo learn from his mistakes and secure a victory?
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo 2 best bet
Cejudo has his foot in one door and out the other, preparing for a Misfits Boxing fight after. Merab is preparing to fight for gold in the UFC. Two fighters on opposite paths. If Cejudo trains harder, his tanks could be depleted on fight night. Merab can adapt from the first match and earn a dominant win, with no comeback needed.
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Jordan Burroughs vs. Sean Brady odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Jordan Burroughs | -10000 |
| Sean Brady | +3000 |
Jordan Burroughs vs. Sean Brady prediction
Burroughs is the most decorated wrestler in American history. The Olympic gold medalist and multi-time champion is making his RAF debut and has a freestyle record of over 200 wins. He faces Sean Brady, who picked up BJJ and is a former Cage Fury FC champion.
Brady is 2-1 in his last three fights in the octagon and may be way out of his league here.
Jordan Burroughs vs. Sean Brady best bet
There’s a reason the odds are as wide as they are. Unless there’s a massive upset, Burroughs should prove why he’s one of the most gifted athletes on the RAF roster. Sorry, Brady.
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Bo Nickal vs. Max McEnelly odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Bo Nickal | -110 |
| Max McEnelly | -110 |
Bo Nickal vs. Max McEnelly prediction
A multi-time wrestling champion and a three-time NCAA Division I national champion, Nickal has transitioned from wrestler to brawler in the UFC. Meanwhile, on the mat, Nickal won the RAF light heavyweight championship last August. A champion with Minnesota, McEnelly went 24-2 during the 2025-26 season, including a 15-2 record against ranked competition. He was the first Gopher to win a national title at 184 pounds.
It’s a unique matchup pitting wrestling’s past vs. present and future.
Bo Nickal vs. Max McEnelly best bet
This is a true scrap. Given his track record, Nickal should be able to pull it off. It won’t be easy. Expect a classic, with McEnelly becoming a star right in front of our eyes.
Gable Steveson vs. Anthony Cassioppi odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Gable Steveson | -10000 |
| Anthony Cassioppi | +3000 |
Gable Steveson vs. Anthony Cassioppi prediction
An Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division I national champion, Steveson finished his career in Minnesota with the best winning percentage in program history (.972 mark with a 103-3 record). He’s undefeated in the cage, earning his first UFC win not long ago. A four-time All-American at Iowa, Cassioppi is an associate coach at Wisconsin.
Steveson is 4-0 against Cassioppi at the collegiate level. Can he go 5-0?
Gable Steveson vs. Anthony Cassioppi best bet
Nothing should really change here. Steveson is the more active of the two, training in MMA and for his next fight. An anomaly, Steveson should continue his winning ways against Cassioppi.
MORE: Complete guide to MMA bet types
Full RAF 12 card
- Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo 2 for the RAF lightweight Crossover championship
- Jordan Burroughs vs. Sean Brady; Catchweight
- Bo Nickal vs. Max McEnelly; Light Heavyweights
- Tyron Woodley vs. Joaquin Buckley; Cruiserweight
- Evan Wick vs. Jason Nolf for the RAF middleweight championship
- Vladimer Khinchegashvili vs. Jesse Mendez; Featherweight
- David Carr (c) vs. Tajmuraz Salkazanov for the RAF welterweight championship
- Kennedy Blades (c) vs. Diana Avsaragova for the RAF middleweight championship
- Johnni DiJulius vs. Asu Almabayev; Featherweights
- Masanosuke Ono vs. Ben Davino; Bantamweights
- Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau vs. Will Lewan; Middleweights
- Gable Steveson vs. Anthony Cassioppi; Heavyweights
Best sportsbook for RAF 12
DraftKings Sportsbook is probably the strongest overall choice. It has been among the first major U.S. sportsbooks to post odds for RAF events and typically offers the deepest selection of combat sports markets and often adds alternate lines and live betting as the event approaches.
RAF 12 betting FAQ
Where can you bet on RAF 12?
DraftKings Sportsbook is the only current platform that actively has betting odds on the RAF 12 event. All of the other sportsbooks including FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365 and Fanatics do not have odds available at this moment.
What are the most popular betting markets for RAF?
The most popular betting markets for RAF 12 are similar to those offered for MMA and boxing events. The exact menu will vary based on the sportsbook, but the markets you’ll see most often are
- Moneyline (Match winner)
- Method of Victory
- Winning Margin/Point Spread
- Total Match Points
- Parlays
Can you bet on Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo 2?
Yes, you can bet on Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo 2. DraftKings Sportsbook is currently the only sportsbook that has odds on the RAF 12 fight and event.
Can you parlay RAF 12 bets?
Right now, there is no way to parlay RAF 12 bets in a same-game parlay. However, you can parlay multiple moneylines on the main event card to make a good parlay for the event.
Can you live bet RAF 12?
As of now there are no live bets available for the RAF 12 wrestling event. Bettors can place their best up until the start of the 8 p.m. ET main card. Once bets are placed the odds are locked in and do not change.
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