UFC 298: Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili predictions, odds and how to watch

Henry Cejudo, a former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, is set to meet Merab Dvalishvili in the octagon at UFC 298.

Cejudo, who is also a Olympic wrestling gold medalist, is determined to redeem himself after losing to Aljamain Sterling in his last bout via a split decision in May 2023. Cejudo has put his entire career on the line for this fight and has stated that if he loses at UFC 298, he will retire from the sport for the second time.

In May 2020, Cejudo retired from the sport after defeating Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title. However, Cejudo announced his comeback and later lost the title to Sterling at UFC 288 in 2023. If Cejudo manages to win against Dvalishvili, who is on a nine-fight win streak, he will improve his chances of competing for the bantamweight title once again.

UFC 298: Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili predictions

CBS Sports: Merab Dvalishvili by decision

Brent Brookhouse writes: "Dvalishvili should be able to break down Cejudo through pure pressure. Dvalishvili has just one stoppage victory in his 11 UFC fights and Cejudo is not likely to be the second man Dvalishvili has stopped, which makes the extra value of Dvalishvili by decision the better play"

Action Network: Pick Merab Dvalishvili

Billy Ward writes: "Breaking this fight down was tricky, particularly from the Cejudo side. The only appearance he's made in roughly four years was against Sterling, a fighter with a similar style to Dvalishvili but who is anthropomorphically entirely different. Much of Cejudo's struggles on the feet were due to the range kept by Sterling, which won't be an issue here. Still, while Cejudo was impressive in his return, he was still noticeably diminished from his prime. That was about nine months ago, so it's reasonable to project an even further decline in his speed and reaction time this weekend. Which Dvalishvili will certainly put to the test, thanks to his combination of relentless pace and excellent mixing of the martial arts. I was initially wary about laying the juice on Dvalishvili – what happens if he can't take down Cejudo? – until I rewatched the Aldo fight. While that wasn't exactly prime Aldo, he was still more than a year younger than Cejduo will be on Saturday. I expect Dvalishvili to be a step quicker wherever this fight goes – and hopefully earn a title shot for his efforts."

Covers: Pick Dvalishvili

Staff writes: "The aging Cejudo is going up against an elite defender who is in his prime. Also, Cejudo is recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of action against Marlon Vera at UFC 292. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cejudo gives him all he can handle, and could potentially threaten an upset. Even so, Dvalishvili won’t be denied, and youth will be served in this bantamweight battle."

Pickswise: Dvalishvili win

Staff writes: "Cejudo comes into this fight with an MMA record of 16-3 and he is 10-3 in the UFC. Cejudo is averaging 3.93 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 47%. He is absorbing 3.15 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 2.07 takedowns per every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 34% and his takedown defense is 83%. Dvalishvili is the clear favorite in this fight and while Cejudo is a former title holder, Dvalishvili has outstanding grappling, making him our lean for this fight."

UFC 298: Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili odds, total rounds

Merab Dvalishvili is the favorite to defeat Henry Cejudo, according to the BetMGM odds.

All odds as of Friday.

Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering  betting promos in 2023.

How to watch UFC 298: Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili

The main card event will commence on Sat. Feb. 17 at 10 p.m. ET.

However, the first fights will start at 6:30 p.m. ET. You can watch all the fights on ESPN+. The four prelim fights will also be broadcasted on ESPN before switching to pay-per-view (via ESPN+) for the main card.

How to watch: Catch UFC action with an ESPN+ subscription

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili: Predictions, Odds, and How to Watch UFC 298