Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili. The post does not specify the reason for the withdrawal or which event the fight was scheduled for. No details are provided about a potential replacement opponent or rescheduling. This represents a significant development given both fighters' standings in the bantamweight division.
Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from his scheduled bantamweight bout against Merab Dvalishvili, according to a report dated April 18, 2026. No reason for the pullout has been given, and there is no word yet on a replacement opponent or a new date for either fighter.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," enters this development holding a 16-6 record and sitting at number nine in the bantamweight rankings. The 39-year-old American, who trains out of Fight Ready, stands five-foot-four with a 64-inch reach. He lands 3.82 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate and averages 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes, numbers that reflect his decorated wrestling-based style.
His would-be opponent, Merab Dvalishvili, is ranked first in the bantamweight division and second on the pound-for-pound list, making the Georgian a far more consequential absence from the card. "The Machine" carries a 21-5 record and, at 35, is arguably at the peak of his powers training alongside the Serra-Longo Fight Team. The five-foot-six fighter owns a 68-inch reach and one of the most relentless engines in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes and 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the number-one ranked bantamweight, so any fight involving him directly shapes the division's title picture.
- Cejudo's withdrawal leaves Dvalishvili without an opponent, potentially stalling the rankings momentum of both men.
- The stylistic matchup — Cejudo's precision wrestling against Dvalishvili's volume grappling — was one of the more intriguing 135-pound contests on the horizon.
- No replacement or rescheduling has been announced, leaving the situation unresolved.
