Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili. The post provides limited details about the circumstances or reasons behind the withdrawal. No information is provided about whether a replacement opponent will be sought or if Dvalishvili will remain on the card. The original event and date for this matchup were not specified in the announcement. Further details about the withdrawal are expected to emerge.
Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bantamweight bout against Merab Dvalishvili, according to an announcement made on April 18, 2026. No reason for the withdrawal was given, and no details have emerged about whether a replacement opponent will be sought or whether Dvalishvili will remain on the card.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," holds a 16-6 record and is ranked ninth in the bantamweight division at 39 years old. The American wrestler and former champion fights out of Fight Ready and brings a well-rounded skill set, averaging 3.82 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and adding 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Dvalishvili, the number-one ranked bantamweight and number-two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, enters with a 21-5 record. The Georgian fighter, known as "The Machine," trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and is one of the division's most relentless competitors at 35 years old. He averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the highest marks in the sport — while also posting 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the top-ranked bantamweight contender, so any opponent change carries significant title implications.
- Cejudo's withdrawal leaves Dvalishvili's immediate future uncertain, with no replacement or revised matchup announced.
- The pairing would have been a high-stakes clash between two contrasting wrestling-heavy styles in a stacked division.
Further details surrounding the circumstances of the withdrawal are expected to follow.
