Henry Cejudo withdraws from Merab Dvalishvili bout at RAF 08 due to injury

Henry Cejudo has been forced out of his scheduled bantamweight bout against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 08 in Philadelphia, with an injury ending his participation on the night's card. The fight had been set to serve as the evening's main event.

Cejudo, 39, entered the matchup ranked ninth in the bantamweight division with a professional record of 16-6. The American wrestler and striker out of Fight Ready carries a striking output of 3.82 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and averages 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-four with a 64-inch reach, the former champion known as Triple C was looking to climb back into contention. The nature of his injury was not disclosed in the announcement.

His scheduled opponent, Merab Dvalishvili, entered the card as the top-ranked bantamweight in the world and the number-two pound-for-pound fighter on the roster. The 35-year-old Georgian, representing Serra-Longo Fight Team, holds a 21-5 record and is one of the most relentless grapplers in the division, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also leads with 4.33 significant strikes per minute, making him a threat in all phases.

With the main event scrapped, the card has been reshuffled and Arman Tsarukyan versus Urijah Faber steps up to headline the evening.

Faber, 47, is a veteran of the sport with a 35-11 record competing out of Team Alpha Male. The California Kid stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and averages 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting his reputation as a dangerous finisher on the mat.

Why it matters

• Dvalishvili loses a high-profile opportunity to further cement his status as the division's top contender
• Cejudo's path back toward the bantamweight title picture takes another setback
• Tsarukyan versus Faber now carries the pressure of closing the show in Philadelphia