Henry Cejudo Withdraws From RAF 08 Main Event

Cejudo out of highly anticipated rematch with Merab Dvalishvili due to last-minute injury

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:55pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting two wrestlers in mid-action, their bodies and limbs broken down into sharp, angular geometric shapes in muted earth tones with flashes of bright color.The late withdrawal of Henry Cejudo from the RAF 08 main event leaves fans disappointed, but also raises questions about the unpredictable nature of combat sports.Philadelphia Today

Just hours before the RAF 08 event was set to begin, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from the main event matchup against Merab Dvalishvili. The nature and severity of Cejudo's injury is currently unknown, and RAF officials have not commented on whether the fight will be rescheduled for a future event.

Why it matters

Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili was expected to be the marquee bout of the RAF 08 card, featuring two elite-level wrestlers with a history of competitive matchups in the UFC. Cejudo's withdrawal is a major blow to the event's main event and will disappoint fans anticipating the highly anticipated rematch.

The details

RAF officials announced that Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber will now serve as the new main event, with Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan as the co-main. Cejudo was in good spirits during the pre-fight press conference on Friday, where he traded some lighthearted verbal jabs with Dvalishvili.

  • RAF 08 is set to take place tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The players

Henry Cejudo

A former two-division UFC champion who was scheduled to headline RAF 08 in a rematch against Merab Dvalishvili.

Merab Dvalishvili

A top-ranked UFC bantamweight who was set to face Henry Cejudo in the RAF 08 main event.

Arman Tsarukyan

A rising UFC lightweight who will now compete in the new main event of RAF 08.

Urijah Faber

A UFC Hall of Famer who will take on Arman Tsarukyan in the new RAF 08 main event.

Kyle Snyder

An Olympic gold medalist wrestler who will compete in the co-main event of RAF 08.

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What they’re saying

“Henry Cejudo is out due to injury, and his matchup with Merab Dvalishvili has been canceled.”

— RAF Officials

What’s next

RAF officials have not commented on whether they plan to reschedule the Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili fight for a future event.

The takeaway

Cejudo's late withdrawal from the RAF 08 main event is a significant setback for the card, as the highly anticipated rematch between the two elite wrestlers will no longer take place as planned. Fans will now have to wait and see if the promotion can rebook the fight for a future event.