Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili Prediction: UFC 298 Betting Odds
Cejudo has been idle since losing the belt by split decision to Aljamain Sterling last May at UFC 288, which also marked his first career defeat while fighting as a bantamweight. Dvalishvili will be looking to make his case for a shot at the UFC bantamweight title with a 10th straight victory when he enters the octagon for Saturday night’s UFC 298 main card matchup. Dvalishvili last saw action last March, when he eked out a five-round unanimous decision win over Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night 221, which also marked the eighth time he has received the nod from the judges during his career-best 9-0 run.
Dvalishvili’s five-year undefeated run has helped lift him to a -210 favourite on the UFC 298 odds, and a short -135 bet to claim victory by decision. Cejudo trails as a +175 underdog, while the odds of this fight going the distance are pegged at -300.
Henry Cejudo Odds
Things didn’t go as planned for Cejudo when he came out of retirement and sought to reclaim the UFC bantamweight strap in last year’s tangle with Sterling. “Triple C” found himself in the unfamiliar position of facing an opponent that easily matched his striking ability and skill at level changes before coming up short by decision in one of the most memorable championship battles in recent years.
It has now been almost four years since the 37-year-old two-time UFC champion has earned a win in the octagon, raising concerns about rust. The big question is whether “The Messenger” still possesses the impressive punching power that earned him three straight wins and lifted him to the top of the UFC bantamweight division before his 2020 decision to retire.
Merab Dvalishvili Odds
Currently perched as the No. 2 contender on the UFC bantamweight rankings, Dvalishvili has leveraged hi impressive grappling and wrestling skills to build one of the UFC’s longest current win streaks. The 33-year-old Georgia native has recorded eight wins by decision during a 9-0 run that started back in September 2018. And while he has consistently out struck opponents during his current epic win streak, it has been his ability to change levels and dominate on the mat that has set him apart.
Dvalishvili recorded an astonishing 11 takedowns in his recent five-round victory over former UFC bantamweight champ Petr Yan, and has averaged 6.33 takedowns per fight during his win streak. However, Dvalishvili must not underestimate the striking ability of his veteran opponent, especially considering his middling 56% striking defence and his relative lack of experience in championship rounds.
UFC 298 Prediction: Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
There will be no shortage of UFC fans pulling for Cejudo to recapture the magic of his days as a UFC champion. However, his lack of activity over the past four years has to be cause for concern against a younger opponent, who has established himself as one of the most durable fighters in the business.
Prediction: Dvalishvili by decision (-135)