Analysis: What’s next for bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili?

Backup for Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo. Photo via Instagram (@henry_cejudo)

Aljamain Sterling is fighting Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 in May. If Sterling wins, then Dvalishvili will have to wait to see if his teammate choses to move up to featherweight to give him the chance to fight for the bantamweight strap.

Cejudo has expressed a desire to let Dvalishvili to serve as the backup for the upcoming title bout, since he’s scared that the champion will pull out of the fight.

“Why we don’t make Merab the backup at UFC 288. Why don’t we do it that way? That way it’s both of these training partners because I have a feeling Aljamain is going to eventually back out so I want to make sure,” Cejudo recently said on Twitter.

However, this scenario is not very likely to happen, since Dvalishvili would have to face his teammate if Cejudo is the one to pull out.