Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 08 in Philadelphia due to an injury. The fight was set to headline tonight's event. The new main event will feature Arman Tsarukyan versus Urijah Faber as a replacement. No details were provided about the severity of Cejudo's injury or potential rescheduling.
Henry Cejudo has been forced out of his bantamweight matchup against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 08 in Philadelphia on April 18, citing an injury that has left the card without its original headliner. No details regarding the severity of the injury or a potential rescheduling of the bout have been disclosed.
Cejudo, 39, entered the fight ranked ninth in the bantamweight division with a professional record of 16-6. The American fighter, who trains out of Fight Ready, stands five-foot-four with a 64-inch reach and has averaged 3.82 significant strikes per minute over his career at a 47 percent accuracy rate. He also contributes on the ground, averaging 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes.
His would-be opponent, Merab Dvalishvili, holds the number-one bantamweight ranking and sits second in the pound-for-pound standings. The 35-year-old Georgian carries a 21-5 record and is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also paces the division in striking volume at 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Stepping in as a replacement main event, Arman Tsarukyan will now face veteran Urijah Faber. Faber, 47, holds a career record of 35-11 and brings considerable experience to the cage. The California-born fighter averages 2.65 significant strikes per minute and 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes, and also contributes in the submission game at 0.8 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Cejudo's withdrawal removes a high-profile bantamweight matchup that carried real divisional implications given Dvalishvili's top-ranked status.
- The number-one contender at 135 pounds will now need a new opponent, potentially delaying his path to another title shot.
- The replacement pairing of Tsarukyan and Faber significantly changes the competitive weight and stakes of the main event slot.
