It was do or die for Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 on Saturday night.
The former two-division world champion vowed to (once again) retire from mixed martial arts with a loss against the bantamweight division’s No. 2 ranked contender, Merab Dvalishvili.
Round 1
Cejudo kicks things off with a calf kick to Dvalishvili. ‘The Machine’ offers up a couple of spinning heel kicks that come nowhere close to connecting. Cejudo goes low once again with a calf kick. Dvalishvili moves in and Cejudo rocks his opponent with a well-timed counter left. Dvalishvili recovers and returns to the center of the Octagon. Cejudo swings with a right and Dvalishvili changes levels, scoring a takedown in the center of the cage. Cejudo promptly gets back up but eats a right hook for his trouble.
Dvalishvili comes back with another right that catches Cejudo, but as both men go to the canvas, ‘Triple C’ ends up on top. Dvalishvili scrambles to get back up and eventually does, working himself to the cage wall as Cejudo clings to his back. With 10 seconds left in the round, Dvalishvili breaks free from Cejudo’s grasp but takes a knee in the process.
Round 2
Dvalishvili comes out testing the distance with a couple of front kicks. Cejudo fires a big low kick that connects. Dvalishvili closes the distance and Cejudo changes levels, briefly grabbing a hold of ‘The Machine’ before relinquishing the hold. Dvalishvili lands a nice counter right hand that has Cejudo backup up and looking for a single leg. Cejudo eats another big right hand. Cejudo goes to the body, but Dvalishvili lands another clean left.
In close, Dvalishvili clinches and trips Cejudo to the ground. Cejudo crawls his way to the fence and uses it to get back up. Dvalishvili hangs on and drags ‘Triple C’ back down. Cejudo again climbs back up and breaks free from Dvalishvili’s hold. Cejudo is beginning to show some signs of fatigue.
The ex-champ offers up a lackluster takedown attempt but gives up his neck in the process, allowing Dvalishvili to cinch in a guillotine. Cejudo rides it out until the second round horn sounds.
Round 3
Cejudo again opens the round with a calf kick. Cejudo fires a combination that prompts Dvalishvili to fire back with a kick before initiating the clinch and forcing Cejudo back to the cage wall. Cejudo breaks away and goes back to the low kick. Dvalishvili responds with a stiff left jab. Both fighters train leg kicks as we approach the halfway point of the final round.
Dvalishvili connects with a nice right hand. He pushes forward, pressing Cejudo to the fence before picking him up and dragging him halfway across the cage. Dvalishvili slams ‘Triple C’ to the canvas and jumps on top of him. Cejudo pops back up, but Dvalishvili drags him right back down. Cejudo gets back up and attempts to score his own takedown as the last 10 seconds run out on an entertaining title eliminator.
Official Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Check Out Highlights From Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298:
Merab Dvalishvili and BFF Mark Zuckerberg at #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/csBEr6QoSl
— AlAudhli العوذلي ™ (@alaudhli) February 18, 2024
¡SE LA LLEVA MERAB DVALISHVILI 🇬🇪 VÍA DECISIÓN UNÁNIME, 10 VICTORIAS SEGUIDAS PARA EL GEORGIANO! #UFC298pic.twitter.com/XBKvwYB7yt
— Infinity MMA (@Infinity_MMA) February 18, 2024
