Henry Cejudo. Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Henry Cejudo calls out UFC’s top-ranked bantamweight fighter

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/8/23

Many expected former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo to drift quietly back into retirement following his bantamweight championship loss to Aljamain Sterling via split decision at UFC 288 on Saturday.

However, the former Olympic gold medalist appears to be sticking around the octagon for a bit longer after calling out Sterling’s close friend and training partner Merab Dvalishvili on Monday for a potential UFC card in Boston on Aug. 19.

It didn’t take long for Dvalishvili, who’s 16-4 with a nine-fight UFC win streak that includes wins over former champions Petr Yan and Jose Aldo, to respond.

Let’s Go! I will take another of @funkmasterMMA ‘s leftovers .. for now! https://t.co/I7jVSbcaxp
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) May 8, 2023

It’s not the first time Cejudo has teased wanting a fight Dvalishvili. The 36-year-old wrestler stated on his YouTube channel last month that he believed he could defeat Dvalishvili with ease.

“A guy like Merab would be easy money,” Cejudo said. “I’d hurt that dude. I’d let him in on my legs, make him carry my weight, and then take him down.”

Cejudo’s loss to Sterling was his first fight in nearly three years. He retired in May 2020 after a second-round TKO win over former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. Cejudo had won six straight fights heading into his clash with Sterling, which was just the third professional loss of his mixed martial arts career.

Dvalishvili is ranked No. 1 in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings but he has yet to fight for the title due to his friendship with Sterling. The two fighters vowed to never fight each other — something UFC president Dana White is on record being vehemently against.

“Does Merab want a shot at the title, or would Merab rather have people under him jump over him, and him have to take on all these different tough guys, when he’s not getting a title shot when he’s next in line for it?” White said in March, via MMA Junkie.

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