Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 8 in Philadelphia due to injury. The fight was set to take place tonight as the main event. With Cejudo's withdrawal, the new headliner will be Arman Tsarukyan versus Urijah Faber. The post does not specify the nature of Cejudo's injury or provide details on whether the bout will be rescheduled. This is a significant last-minute change to the card.
Henry Cejudo has been forced off tonight's RAF 8 card in Philadelphia due to injury, pulling out of what was scheduled to be the main event against Merab Dvalishvili. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed, and no information has been provided on whether the matchup will be rescheduled.
Cejudo, 39, holds a 16-6 record and is currently ranked ninth in the bantamweight division. The American wrestler-turned-striker out of Fight Ready carries a striking output of 3.82 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a multi-dimensional threat in any contest.
Dvalishvili, 35, will now be left without an opponent on the night. The Georgian fighter out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team sits at number one in the bantamweight rankings and number two in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a 21-5 record. Known for relentless wrestling pressure, he averages a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the highest in the sport.
With the main event scrapped, Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber will step up to headline the card. Faber, the 47-year-old veteran and founder of Team Alpha Male, brings a 35-11 record into the bout. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, he averages 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes and 1.54 takedowns, underscoring his grappling-heavy style.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili, the top-ranked bantamweight, loses a high-profile opportunity at just hours' notice
- Cejudo's injury timeline and the fate of the rescheduled bout remain unknown
- Tsarukyan and Faber inherit main event billing in a significant reshuffling of the card
