Merab Dvalishvili has accepted Henry Cejudo’s callout, but he can’t fight until the end of the year.

After getting edged out by bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288, Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) wanted to get back to the title picture through Sterling’s teammate, Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC).

Sterling is expected to defend his title against Sean O’Malley on Aug. 19 at UFC 292, and Cejudo hoped to face Dvalishvili on the same card. But with Dvalishvili recently undergoing hand surgery, “The Machine” won’t be ready until the last quarter of 2023.

“I was injured before my last fight,” Dvalishvili told The Schmo. “I punched somebody in the gym, and I broke some bones. I was injured, but I still fought Yan. I needed surgery, (which) I did last Tuesday. Now I’m recovering. I will be able to punch in three months, and I will be able to train again in six weeks. But punch, I need three months to punch. …

“No, I won’t be able to fight because I need to train again. I need to get ready. I don’t think I’ll be ready for August. But maybe, we’ll see, another time. For sure (in the fall or late 2023). I’m gonna start running soon. I’m gonna start swimming. After this will be to heal up and everything. I’ll be ready, man.”

In his win over Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night 221, Dvalishvili attempted 49 takedowns – the single-fight record for an octagon bout. In Cejudo, he’d be going up against an Olympic gold medalist wrestler, but Dvalishvili is confident in his wrestling.

“I’m a fighter,” Dvalishvili said. “I know he’s an Olympic-champion wrestler, but this is MMA. I can fight anywhere. Even if he wants wrestling, no problem. Everybody knows my wrestling is too good – for MMA. Olympic rules, of course he will beat me, like in straight wrestling. But straight MMA is where it counts.”