The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be hosting its high-octane pay-per-view, UFC 298, on February 17, 2024. The event will be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA. It is full of impressive fights across weight classes. The main event is scheduled to be headlined by the featherweight king, Alexander Volkanovski, and challenger Ilia Topuria. Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo will face each other on the main card of UFC 298 in a bantamweight showdown.
Merab Dvalishvili is a prominent face in the mixed martial arts universe. He made his debut as a professional mixed artist on January 24, 2014, against Darren Mima at Ring of Combat 47. He fought for the three rounds but came up short and lost by a unanimous decision. Dvalishvili, however, recovered from this initial hiccup and amassed a record of 7 wins and 2 losses before making his way into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Before making his debut in the UFC, Merab Dvalishvili competed in multiple fight promotions. He made his debut in the organization on December 9, 2017, against Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega. He lost the fight by a split decision. He took his time to find his steps in the promotion and is currently cruising on a nine-fight winning streak.
Merab Dvalishvili’s rival, Henry Cejudo is a former UFC double champ and one of the leading professional mixed martial artists active today. Cejudo made his professional MMA debut against Michael Poe at WFF MMA: Pascua Yaqui Fights 4. He made quick work of Poe by submitting him in the first round.
Henry Cejudo cruised comfortably in the first ten fights of his professional career before losing a fight. He is one of the few fighters in the UFC to have held championship belts in two different weight classes. At UFC 298, both Cejudo and Dvalishvili would be eyeing a dominant win for a potential title contention. Henry Cejudo is currently ranked No. 3, whereas, Merab Dvalishvili is ranked No. 2 in the bantamweight rankings of the promotion.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo Imavov Stats
| Stats | Merab Dvalishvili | Henry Cejudo |
| Record | 16-4 (3 KOs) | 16-3 (8 KOs) |
| Championship | - | - |
| Age | 33 | 36 |
| Height | 1.68m | 1.63m |
| Division(s) | Bantamweight | Bantamweight |
| Reach | 68” | 64” |
| Win Streak (Active) | 9 | 0 |
| Professional Debut | 2014 | 2013 |
Merab Dvalishvili Record
Merab Dvalishvili has a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses to his name as of February 2024.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 16–4 | Petr Yan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | March 11, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | José Aldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 278 | August 20, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 14–4 | Marlon Moraes | TKO (punches) | UFC 266 | September 25, 2021 | 2 | 4:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–4 | Cody Stamann | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–4 | John Dodson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 252 | August 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Gustavo Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo | June 13, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Win | 10–4 | Casey Kenney | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | February 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 9–4 | Brad Katona | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy | May 4, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 8–4 | Terrion Ware | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik | September 15, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Loss | 7–4 | Ricky Simón | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee | April 21, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 7–3 | Frankie Saenz | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | December 9, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Raufeon Stots | KO (spinning backfist) | Ring of Combat 59 | June 2, 2017 | 1 | 0:15 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Defended the Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–2 | Sukhrob Aydarbekov | Submission (armbar) | Ring of Combat 58 | February 24, 2017 | 2 | N/A | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the vacant Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–2 | Tony Gravely | Decision (split) | Ring of Combat 57 | November 18, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Paul Grant | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 56 | September 23, 2016 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 3–2 | Matt Tullos | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 36 | June 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 2–2 | Geoffrey Then | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 34 | April 1, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Ricky Bandejas | Decision (unanimous) | CFFC 43 | November 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 1–1 | Dennis Dombrow | TKO (punches) | Ring of Combat 49 | September 19, 2014 | 3 | 0:50 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Darren Mima | Decision (majority) | Ring of Combat 47 | January 24, 2014 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
Henry Cejudo Record
Henry Cejudo has a record of 16 wins and 3 losses as a professional mixed martial artist as of February 2024.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 16–3 | Aljamain Sterling | Decision (split) | UFC 288 | May 6, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | For the UFC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 16–2 | Dominick Cruz | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC 249 | May 9, 2020 | 2 | 4:58 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Defended the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Cejudo vacated the title on May 24, 2020 after his retirement. |
| Win | 15–2 | Marlon Moraes | TKO (punches) | UFC 238 | June 8, 2019 | 3 | 4:51 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Won the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14–2 | T.J. Dillashaw | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw | January 19, 2019 | 1 | 0:32 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | Defended the UFC Flyweight Championship. Performance of the Night. Dillashaw tested positive in pre and post-fight drug tests for erythropoietin (EPO). Cejudo vacated the title on February 29, 2020. |
| Win | 13–2 | Demetrious Johnson | Decision (split) | UFC 227 | August 4, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Won the UFC Flyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–2 | Sergio Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 218 | December 2, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Wilson Reis | TKO (punches) | UFC 215 | September 9, 2017 | 2 | 0:25 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–2 | Joseph Benavidez | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale | December 3, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Cejudo was deducted one point in round 1 due to repeated low blows. |
| Loss | 10–1 | Demetrious Johnson | TKO (knees to the body) | UFC 197 | April 23, 2016 | 1 | 2:49 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–0 | Jussier Formiga | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum | November 21, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Monterrey, Mexico | |
| Win | 9–0 | Chico Camus | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 188 | June 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 8–0 | Chris Cariaso | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 185 | March 14, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Return to Flyweight. |
| Win | 7–0 | Dustin Kimura | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic | December 13, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 6–0 | Elias Garcia | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 27 | January 31, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Flyweight debut; Cejudo missed weight (128.5 lb). |
| Win | 5–0 | Ryan Hollis | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 24 | October 11, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Catchweight (128 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Miguelito Marti | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: American Dream | May 18, 2013 | 1 | 1:43 | Lincoln, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Anthony Sessions | TKO (punches) | WFF 10: Cejudo v Sessions | April 19, 2013 | 1 | 4:23 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Won the vacant WFF Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Sean Henry Barnett | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Battleground | March 24, 2013 | 1 | 4:55 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Michael Poe | TKO (submission to punches) | WFF MMA: Pascua Yaqui Fights 4 | March 2, 2013 | 1 | 1:25 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
Merab Dvalishvili Losses
Merab Dvalishvili has suffered four losses in his professional career. His first loss came against Darren Mima in the first professional match of his career. His second loss resulted against Ricky Bandejas at CFFC 43, who defeated him by unanimous decision. Dvalishvili lost his third fight against Frankie Saenz via split decision at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega. His fourth professional loss was handed to him by Ricky Simon at UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee, he was defeated by Simon via third-round submission.
FAQs on Merab Dvalisvili and Henry Cejudo Head to Head Record
A. Merab Dvalishvili has a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses.
A. He has a professional record of 16 wins and 3 losses.
A. He has a reach of 68 inches.
A. He has a reach of 64 inches.
A. He is 33 years old.
