Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bout with Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 8 in Philadelphia due to an injury. The fight was set to headline tonight's event. As a result, a new main event has been arranged featuring Arman Tsarukyan versus Urijah Faber. The nature and severity of Cejudo's injury have not been disclosed. No rescheduled date for the Cejudo-Dvalishvili matchup has been announced.
Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 8 in Philadelphia, pulling out of what was set to be the night's headliner due to an undisclosed injury. No details on the nature or severity of the injury have been released, and no rescheduled date for the matchup has been announced. In response, a new main event has been arranged between Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," holds a 16-6 record and competes at bantamweight, where he is currently ranked ninth. The 39-year-old American trains out of Fight Ready and brings an orthodox stance along with an active output of 3.82 significant strikes landed per minute and 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," enters as the number-one ranked bantamweight and sits second in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 35-year-old Georgian carries a 21-5 record and is one of the division's most relentless wrestlers, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes while also producing 4.33 significant strikes per minute. He trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team.
Stepping in to headline the card is Urijah Faber, the 47-year-old veteran known as "The California Kid." Faber holds a career record of 35-11 and represents Team Alpha Male out of California. He stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and averages 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting the grappling threat he has carried throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Cejudo's withdrawal removes a high-profile bantamweight matchup with significant divisional implications, given Dvalishvili's top-ranked status.
- No rescheduling has been confirmed, leaving Dvalishvili's path forward at 135 pounds temporarily uncertain.
- The replacement main event brings Faber back into a prominent spot opposite Tsarukyan, shifting the card's competitive dynamic considerably.
