Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili. The post does not provide details about the reason for the withdrawal or the event from which Cejudo pulled out. No replacement opponent or rescheduled date was mentioned. The withdrawal affects a high-profile matchup in the bantamweight division. Further details about the circumstances are limited in this brief announcement.
Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bantamweight bout against Merab Dvalishvili, ending what had been one of the more anticipated matchups in the 135-pound division. No reason for the withdrawal was given, and no replacement opponent or new date has been announced.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," holds a 16-6 record and is currently ranked ninth in the bantamweight division. The 39-year-old American, who trains out of Fight Ready, stands 163 cm tall with a 64-inch reach. He lands 3.82 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and averages 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," enters as the division's top-ranked contender and sits second in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 21-5 record. The 35-year-old Georgian, a member of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, stands 168 cm with a 68-inch reach. He is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes while also putting out 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili, ranked first at bantamweight and second pound-for-pound, now loses a high-profile opponent with no replacement named
- Cejudo, ranked ninth, was facing a significant step up in competition that could have repositioned him in the title picture
- The matchup pitted two Orthodox fighters with contrasting styles — Cejudo's technical striking and takedowns against Dvalishvili's relentless wrestling volume
- The absence of a stated reason or rescheduled date leaves the division's near-term landscape uncertain
