Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo has pulled out of his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili. No specific reason for the withdrawal was provided in the announcement. The cancellation leaves Dvalishvili without an opponent for their planned matchup. This represents a significant development as both fighters are ranked contenders in the bantamweight division. Further details about the withdrawal and potential replacement options have not been disclosed.
Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from his scheduled bantamweight bout against Merab Dvalishvili, leaving the top-ranked contender without an opponent. No reason for the pullout was provided in the announcement, and no replacement has been named.
Cejudo, known as "Triple C," is a former two-division UFC champion who holds a professional record of 16-6. The 39-year-old American currently sits ninth in the bantamweight rankings and trains out of Fight Ready. Standing five-foot-four with a 64-inch reach, he averages 3.82 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate and adds 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes to his offensive output.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," enters this situation as the number-one ranked bantamweight in the UFC and holds the number-two spot on the pound-for-pound rankings. The 35-year-old Georgian carries a 21-5 record and trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team. At five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, he is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the division, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the top-ranked bantamweight contender and a fight with Cejudo carried significant divisional weight; the withdrawal stalls his path forward.
- Cejudo, ranked ninth, was a high-profile name that would have represented a credible step up in competition despite the ranking gap.
- With no replacement announced, the timeline for Dvalishvili's next appearance remains uncertain, which could affect the broader bantamweight title picture.
- The withdrawal adds another complication to an already active 135-pound division with multiple contenders seeking positioning.
