Cejudo announces fight with Dvalishvili for UFC 298
Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo will take on Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 on Feb. 17, he announced Sunday.
Cejudo says the winner will likely get a title shot following the rematch between bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera at UFC 299.
The 36-year-old Cejudo returned from a three-year layoff in May to take on then-champion Aljamain Sterling but lost via split decision. Sterling dropped the belt to O'Malley three months later, opening up the chance for Cejudo to get another chance at the title.
Cejudo was scheduled to fight Vera in August but was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. Vera instead took on Pedro Munhoz and won to set up another fight with O'Malley, whom he beat in 2020.
Dvalishvili is riding a nine-fight winning streak but consistently shunned a title shot with Sterling, a friend and training partner, sitting atop the bantamweight division.
The 32-year-old earned a unanimous decision win over former champion Petr Yan in March.
Cejudo sparked interest in a fight with Dvalishvili by calling him out in May.
UFC 298 will be headlined by featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski's sixth title defense against Ilia Topuria.