Merab Dvalishvili decisions Henry Cejudo at UFC 298

Former two-division champion and third-ranked Henry Cejudo met second-ranked Merab Dvalishvili in a pivotal bantamweight bout on the UFC 298 main card.  

Cejudo came out of a three-year retirement to face Aljamain Sterling for the 135-pound title in his last outing and came up short losing by split decision.  Looking to rebound and remain in the title picture, Cejudo needed to win.  

Dvalishvili entered the fight riding a nine-fight winning streak.  With his teammate Sterling no longer the champion, Dvalishvili believed that it’s his time to rule the weight class.  

Cejudo landed first with a leg kick.  They two stood at distance looking for an opening.  Cejudo pressed forward.  He landed an uppercut that wobbled Dvalishvili.  Dvalishvili recovered and connected with a leg kick.  Dvalishvili quickly latched onto a leg and took Cejudo down.  Cejudo immediately got back to his feet but ate a right hand in the process.  Dvalishvili landed a right hand that caught Cejudo off balance.  Dvalishvili got aggressive for the takedown and Cejudo gained top position.  

With 90 seconds remaining, Cejudo worked in Dvalishvili’s half guard.  Dvalishvili rolled but Cejudo stayed with him.  Dvalishvili stood but remained in the clinch of Cejudo.  They worked for position along the cage.  Cejudo delivered a knee to the body and separated.  And that’s how the round ended.  MMAWeekly scored the first round for Cejudo 10-9.  

Slow start to the second round before Cejudo landed a left hand.  They exchanged leg kicks.  Cejudo looked for a single leg and briefly had Dvalishvili’s back.  Dvalishvili separated and pressed forward.  He connected with a right hand.  Cejudo looked for a leg and landed a left hand.  Dvalishvili connected with two big shots.  Cejudo just absorbed them.  Dvalishvili grabbed a single leg and took Cejudo down.  Cejudo got back to his feet with two minutes remaining in the round.  

Dvalishvili put Cejudo back on the canvas but Cejudo quickly got back to his feet.  Cejudo went for a leg and Dvalishvili applied a guillotine choke.  He squeezed to tighten it down but the round ended.  MMAWeekly scored the second round 10-9 for Dvalishvili.

Cejudo landed a leg kick to start the third.  He stepped in with a short right hand.  Dvalishvili landed a leg kick and looked to get the fight to the ground.  He settled into the clinch and delivered knees to Cejudo’s legs.  Cejudo turned and separated.  He connected with a leg kick before Dvalishvili looked for a takedown.  Cejudo defended the attempt.  Cejudo connected with a powerful leg kick.  Dvalishvili pressed forward, elevated Cejudo, and slammed him to the canvas with two minutes remaining.  Cejudo got back to his feet but Dvalishvili kept the pressure on.  Dvalishvili continued to work for a single leg inside the clinch.  With 30 seconds remaining Cejudo circled away.  He looked for a takedown but Dvalishvili defended the attempt.  MMAWeekly scored the third round for Dvalishvili 10-9.  

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Merab Dvalishvili.