
Durant out for Game 1 vs. Lakers with knee inury
Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 against the Lakers due to a knee injury.
Merab Dvalishvili returns to competition after losing the UFC bantamweight title. He blames medical advice for his absence during the title defense against Petr Yan last December.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Merab Dvalishvili is set to step back into competition for the first time since losing the UFC bantamweight title, taking on Henry Cejudo in a rematch at Real American Freestyle 8 this Saturday night.
Itâs a return thatâs been a long time coming for âThe Machineâ, who hasnât fought since dropping his belt to Petr Yan last December. And according to Dvalishvili, he probably shouldnât have even been in the cage that night.
Speaking with Fight Bananas, he opened up about what he was dealing with behind the scenes before walking out to defend his title one last time.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
2025 stood out for the former UFC bantamweight champion. After taking the belt from Sean OâMalley the year before, Dvalishvili went on to defeat Umar Nurmagomedov, OâMalley in a rematch, and Cory Sandhagen.
By defending his title three times, he set a new record by stepping in for a fourth defence within the same year.
The loss didnât come without controversy. Dvalishvili later revealed that he was already dealing with issues heading into fight week, suggesting his preparation had been far from ideal.
âI like to take challenges. I like to take risks. Thatâs what I am,â Dvalishvili told Shakiel Mahjouri.
âThatâs what got me here. I knew already. During the training camp (for UFC 323), there were some issues. UFC doctors told me that I can pull out. But thatâs (not) who I am.
âI do not want to make excuses. I like to deal with challenges. I had worse situations before some fights, and I still made it through and won,â he added.
Merab Dvalishvili attributes his absence from the title defense to medical advice he received prior to the fight.
Merab Dvalishvili is set to fight Henry Cejudo in a rematch at Real American Freestyle 8 this Saturday night.
In his last fight, Merab Dvalishvili lost the UFC bantamweight title to Petr Yan last December.

Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 against the Lakers due to a knee injury.

Manchester United's 1-0 win over Chelsea boosts UCL hopes

Messi shines with two goals in Miami's win under new coach Hoyos!
Blue Jays' Lauer hates pitching behind an opener; Schneider agrees it's above his pay grade
Tigers take down Red Sox 4-1, led by Tarik Skubal's pitching

Cordero Vega le dice a Alberola Rojas: 'Es tu puñetero partido, dales fiesta' antes de la final
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Dvalishvili is looking forward to another chapter in his rivalry with Yan, having already split their first two meetings one apiece.
Read more: