Former UFC double champ Henry Cejudo has been so impressed with Dricus Du Plessisās performance against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 that he went on to pick him against potential future opponents Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Pereira.
The UFC middleweight kingpin was as dominant as he could be in his second outing against Strickland, skyrocketing his brand even further. The challenger left with a broken nose at UFC 312, and before that, DDP showcased his grappling prowess by becoming the first fighter to submit Israel Adesanya.
Now, fans are excited to see “Stillknocks” get tested against Chimaev and Pereira. While “”Borz” is coming off an impressive first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker, “Poatan” has looked invincible at light heavyweight.
In a recent episode of Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, Cejudo heavily praised DDP for his cardio and explained why he could hand defeats to both Chimaev and Pereira:
āIf you’re asking me now Kumaru, who is it if we do see a match between DDP and Alex Pereira. Even though I do believe that Pereira is going to beat Magomed Ankalaev, I’ll definitely put my money with DDP. I think DDP, stylistically, is a problem dude. And I know DDP is gonna go in there and f****g wrestle. And I think with the grappling, I think that could be very problematic, but there’s one thing that I will say is he will need to be careful because Alex Pereira does a really good job of cornering and there’s a lot of little sloppy things that DDP does but I think I put my strengths and his mixing of the fighting against a guy like Alex Pereira.ā
While discussing a potential match-up with Chimaev, “Triple C” again picked the South African despite knowing that the Emirati fighter is on an iconic undefeated run. The latter’s ability to out grapple and finish elite fighters like Whittaker and Usman definitely makes him a threat to anyone at middleweight.
āI personally think he beats up Khamzat Chimaev. I don’t think it’s going to be easy to submit, I think DDP is scrambly and I think his conditioning, bro, I mean I want to put him up there. Even like this particularly, this last fight, you want to kind of, you know, maybe the top three, maybe greatest right now cardio in the UFC. Obviously, Merab is one and then you can go two three but whatever it is, he looked freaking good and he looked so good that fifth round where he was like hey, I was able to go another five more rounds. I mean this guy’s ready and this guy’s gonna be a problem for anybody at 185 lbs and I am excited to see this dude fight Khamzat and if he beats a guy like Khamzat Chimaev, I would love for him to go up and then fight the winner of Alex Pereira and Ankalaev.ā
Ankalaev is the no.1 ranked UFC light heavyweight contender set to fight the champion at UFC 313 in T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada on March 8, 2025. The outcome of this fight will naturally impact the futures of the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
Henry Cejudo has expressed admiration for Merab Dvalishviliās accomplishments in the UFC bantamweight division, even going so far as to call his former opponent the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the division.
“The Machine” captured the bantamweight title at UFC 306 last September by defeating OāMalley. He successfully defended his title for the first time this past weekend at UFC 311, where he faced undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili won the bout by unanimous decision, earning another Fight of the Night award in the process.
Speaking on the latest episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman, Cejudo explained why he considers Dvalishvili the bantamweight GOAT.
Dvalishviliās dominance and ability to defeat elite contenders during their prime have solidified his reputation as one of the best fighters in UFC history. As his career continues, the debate over his legacy in the bantamweight division is likely to grow even stronger.
Henry Cejudo is set to return for his third outing inside the Octagon since he came out of retirement to fight Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title in 2023. The former two-weight titleholder has been unable to reclaim the top spot since he left the sport on top back in 2020 after winning six fights in a row.
Having bean beaten by teammates in Sterling and the current champion Merab Dvalishvili, Cejudo is now set to look a few positions further down the 135-pound rankings after failing to immediately re-establish himself as a top contender. In the main event on February 22, he will face the #8-ranked Song Yadong at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Yadong is also looking to bounce back from a defeat last time out but “Triple C” is incredibly confident that he will show levels in this fight. He spoke in a recent interview with Cageside Press about how he sees the matchup playing out in this pivotal moment for his career at the highest level.
āYou guys can witness a damn assassination man. You guys are going to witness a live assassination. Song Yadong you aināt that long,ā Cejudo told Cageside Press.
Cejudo also continued to make references to his opponent’s name in what appears to be the return of his trash talking persona which we have had a significant break from in recent times. Despite this, “King Triple C” knows what is at stake for him in this fight.
He did not return just to take part in the division but a third consecutive loss would be a big uphill battle for him at this stage in his career.
“Song doesnāt have that long dong that you guys think he does and that heās gonna bend the knee and everybody watching should also bend a knee to KING TRIPLE C.”
February 22 is a huge date for the former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo. “Triple C” made his return to the Octagon in May of 2023 after announcing that he had retired three years prior at UFC 249.
Having gone out on top as a champ-champ, the 37-year old has come up short in back-to-back fights since stepping back inside the Octagon at UFC 288. A split decision loss over five rounds to Aljamain Sterling and a further defeat to his teammate and the current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili have doubled his career losses from two to four.
With his next fight recently being made official for Seattle at the Climate Pledge Arena next month, the oddsmakers don’t have Cejudo turning things around at this stage in his career. BetOnline.ag have him as a +160 underdog in his matchup with the #8-ranked Song Yadong.
The 27-year old Team Alpha Male fighter is coming off of a loss to Petr Yan at UFC 299 last March having beaten Ricky SimĆ³n and Chris Gutierrez in consecutive main events before that. Despite also holding victories over the likes of Marlon Vera and Marlon Moraes, beating Cejudo will certainly be the biggest win of his career in terms of name value and he’s currently at -185.
Of course, these betting lines will shift back and forth before the two men step back inside the Octagon but when you look at what Cejudo has been able to achieve in MMA and the level of opponents that he is used to facing, a loss here may be his biggest setback to date considering that his other defeats came in a close fight with Joseph Benavidez and his first encounter with flyweight great Demetrious Johnson.
Henry Cejudo is set to return to the Octagon on February 22 where he will once again look to earn his first win since deciding to comeback from his 2020 retirement. “Triple C” has suffered back-to-back losses in consecutive years to teammates Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili who are the former and current holders of the bantamweight title.
With Yadong coming off of a loss to Petr Yan at UFC 299 in March last year, this is a massive opportunity for him to regain some serious momentum by earning the biggest win of his career to date against one of the top names in the lower weight classes. Cejudo, on the other hand, seemingly has a lot at stake in this contest.
For as much as his return has been stifled by back-to-back losses, losing to the titleholder at the time and the man that would go on to become the champion are two defeats that he can bounce back from. The 37-year old has been fighting either champions or the top contenders for a long time so suffering a third consecutive defeat to the #8-ranked guy would be a tough moment for him to bounce back from.
Despite what this might could mean for his career, anyone expecting a more serious version of “Triple C” appears to be mistaken. His first message on social media after the fight was confirmed followed the same pattern that fight fans have to expect from Cejudo.
Next month’s UFC Fight Night in Seattle looks likely to be a key one in the context of the bantamweight division.
The mixed martial arts leader will head to Washington to close out its February schedule from the Climate Pledge Arena, where multiple former champions and ranked contenders will be in action.
Prior to this week, Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia, Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez, and Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev marked some of the bouts already announced. And now, the Seattle event on Feb. 22 has its main and co-main events set.
UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell confirmed to ESPN Monday that former two-division champion Henry Cejudo (16-4) will return in the main event, sharing the cage with fellow top 10 bantamweight contender Song Yadong (21-8-1, 1 NC). The matchup was first reported earlier in the day by @realkevink on X.
Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo will fight Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Feb. 22 in Seattle, UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell tells ESPN. Rob Font will fight former champ Dominik Cruz in the co-main. Cruzās first fight in over two years.
The Fighting Nerds team out of Brazil has been one of the most exciting stables of fighters to really announce their arrival in 2024. With one fighter signing to the UFC several years ago and proving himself to be a top contender in his division, three other stand outs have made huge impacts inside the Octagon after featuring on last year’s season of the Contender Series.
With an overall record of 11-0 with nine finishes in the UFC this year, Henry Cejudo recently ranked the four Fighting Nerds competitors that have put their team on the map. Unsurprisingly, he gave top billing to the squad’s unofficial team captain, Caio Borralho.
Borralho has won seven fights in a row at middleweight to earn himself the #6-ranking with wins over the likes of Jared Cannonier, Paul Craig and Abus Magomedov setting him up for a huge match-up next time out. Cejudo has been particularly impressed with his wrestling and consistency.
āI got to go with Borralho. His takedown entries are no joke. I wasnāt too sure if he was going to get tired but man, heās special so I think heās the first one to lead. Other than him being the first one to lead, Iām going to have to go with Jean Silva.ā
Since producing an upset on Contender Series, Silva has won three fights in a row this year at both featherweight and lightweight. His latest win over Drew Dober earned him a performance of the night bonus and though Cejudo wants to see him, and the following names, get tested against a high-level wrestler, he’s very impressed with what he has seen thus far.
A fighter that will certainly be in the conversation for breakthrough fighter of the year is Carlos Prates who has finished all four of his opponents this year. A first round knockout against Neil Magny in his first main event at the start of this month saw him enter the welterweight rankings at #13.
āHeās one that I really want to know how good he really is and I do want to see him get tested in that wrestling department. Does Carlos Prates have that threshold of having somebody like a Shavkat or somebody thatās going to wrestle, a Kamaru Usman, someone thatās going to bring that heavy wrestling feel. How is it that he can handle all of that?ā
Last but not least is the member of the four who fought the most recently, Mauricio Ruffy. A spectacular debut against Jamie Mullarkey opened his UFC account in style but his performance at UFC 309 where he faced James Llontop wasn’t as impressive after he secured a decision win as a massive favorite coming in.
āHe just fought this weekend. Very creative, very dangerous on what he does and I do feel like he is special.ā
Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo can envision Colby Covington falling to a losing skid courtesy of Joaquin Buckley next month.
Covington is set to make his return to the Octagon a year on from his third failed bid at achieving undisputed champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
After two setbacks opposite Kamaru Usman, the former interim titleholder most recently fell short against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296. In the eyes of many, that loss marked the likely end of his pursuit of the welterweight mountaintop.
“Chaos,” however, sees things differently. He’s vowed throughout the year to bounce back, secure another opportunity, and be crowned kingpin. And his first step toward that comes in a late-notice showdown with Buckley in Tampa.
Covington is set to headline a UFC Fight Night close to home on Dec. 14, marking the final fight inside the Octagon of 2024. That was originally set be between Ian Garry and Buckley, but after the Irishman was drafted in to fight Shavkat Rakhnmonov at UFC 310 a week prior, Covington has stepped in to meet “New Mansa.”
“Triple C” gave a disparaging assessment of Covington’s current game, suggesting that the “predictable” nature of it could lead to a knockout loss at the hands of the powerful Buckley.
“The style that Colby Covington is doing is so predictable now,ā Cejudo said. āThe fact that they see him lose time and time again, whether itās with Leon Edwards or yourself (Usman), itās there. Once you stop Colbyās takedowns, things will fall into place.
āLook at how Joaquin covers distance, bro. Double feints, dipping in to eventually stop a dude like āWonderboy.ā So, Iām high on this kid. This kid is dangerous,” Cejudo continued. “I can see Colby Covington losing via stoppage to a guy like Joaquin Buckley, and I truly do believe that.ā
UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja isn’t buying former two-division king Henry Cejudo’s talk of a return to 125 pounds next year.
Cejudo’s comeback from a short-lived retirement hasn’t gone to plan thus far. “Triple C” has gone 0-2 at bantamweight since returning three years on from his successful title defense opposite Dominick Cruz.
After narrowly falling short of immediately regaining the crown against Aljamain Sterling in May 2023, Cejudo failed to stake his claim for another opportunity when he battled Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 this past February.
Having now slipped down the pecking order at 135 pounds, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist plans to take his pursuit of another stint as UFC champ back down to flyweight.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Pantoja reacted to Cejudo’s apparent plans to cut down for another title run at flyweight.
Suffice to say, the champ has his doubts…
“When you go to the surgery doctor, yeah, he needs (liposuction) to make the weight,” Pantoja said jokingly. “I donāt think he can make the weight again. Heās too big. Iād love the opportunity. If Cejudo can do that, Iāll give him five pounds to fight. It will be a dream to fight with Cejudo, of course. Heās a legend.”
For now, Pantoja will have his full attention on a different name set to arrive in the division.
In Kai Asakura, “The Cannibal” is scheduled to meet a former Rizin champion who has his sights on a memorable first foray into the Octagon at UFC 310 on Dec. 7.
UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison returns this Saturday night at UFC 307 to take on Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the division.
Harrison has been working hard on her overall MMA game in recent years to make sure that she is able to compete in all areas.
Every fight starts on the feet and developing her striking skills was always going to be an important part of her journey in the sport.
Describing it as a process of no longer “faking it till you make it”, the former PFL star is confident in her all-round MMA abilities in comparison with her opponent.
And as a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo, there aren’t many people on the planet who can compete with her in her area of specialty either.
Kayla Harrison Fires Back At Henry Cejudo Over Fight Prediction
Cejudo made the case that with Vieira having some judo pedigree of her own, she might be able to keep the fight standing – where she could be a big problem for Harrison.
This take wasn’t particularly well received by the #3-ranked contender, who gave her response in a recent interview with Submission Radio.
Harrison believes that Cejudo’s point was meaningless due to the huge gap between a judo black belt and one of the all-time greats in the sport.
“I don’t know why the hell they’re talking about a judo black belt making a difference like there are levels. That would be like me telling Henry, ‘Oh this kid wrestling in varsity in high school so you’re gonna struggle to take him down’. Benign. Asinine. That’s all right, I look forward to showing once again why Henry is a jealous little man.”
Unfortunately for Sandhagen, it looks like former champ Sean O’Malley is going to be taking some substantial time off – meaning that if he wants to stay active, he’ll need to look elsewhere.
Cory Sandhagen Says That Henry Cejudo Isn’t Interested In Fighting Unless It’s A Perfect Opportunity For Him
When looking at the other top bantamweights that Sandhagen could fight next, a few names stand out.
Former champion Petr Yan is one spot ahead of him in the rankings but the Russian hasn’t been able to remain active for some time now.
That leaves former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo – but Sandhagen isn’t very confident in this fight being booked.
He believes that Cejudo is far too focused on calling his shots and taking the most favorable fights that he possibly can, remaining on the sidelines until they appear.
Sandhagen told James Lynch in a recent interview with Fanatics View that he sees “Triple C” as someone who isn’t interested in a fight, until it suits him perfectly.
“Henry’s another guy that kind of makes me nervous. It’s not in like a fight sense but in like a way like is this guy actually gonna show up? I feel like Henry’s kind of thing right now is to say that he’s hurt until there’s a match-up that he really wants and then he goes after that one, you know?
“it does irk me a little bit that Henry gets to just come back and then have every single fight that he’s asking for and I think that that’s gotta like, that can’t be the case. Like he just got beat pretty significantly by Merab. You can fight down the rankings a little bit and fight some guys that we’ve beaten before if you want to work your way up, but you don’t get to just be like this figure that calls his fights and gets them every single time.”
O’Malley did have some success with his striking, especially in the final moments of the fight but he wasn’t able to catch Dvalishvili in the same way that he was able to his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.
The “Funkmaster” has openly admitted that he made some crucial mistakes in that fight back at UFC 292 that as we saw this past weekend, could have been very different if Sterling had more effectively closed the gap on his opponent.
Henry Cejudo Reviews Sean O’Malley’s Performance At UFC 306
On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo weighed in with his thoughts on the fight.
Having faced both Sterling and Dvalishvili in the past, Cejudo felt that the challenger would be too much for O’Malley over five rounds.
He also believes that O’Malley’s title back at UFC 292 was a “fluke” after he was able to stop Sterling without really having his grappling game put to the test.
Cejudo made reference to how he was able to put up a better fight against Dvalishvili at UFC 298, where he lost via unanimous decision.
“What can I say? I predicted these things. Sean is not accustomed to going five rounds and he is no accustomed to people on his legs and I just felt like, I still go back and say hey, that fight with Aljamain Sterling, that was a fluke too. Aljamain was still in that fight and people thought I was just hating. It’s like no, I’ve been in there with Merab, I did a whole lot better than Sean did when I fought Merab. I mean I took down Merab, like Merab is lucky that I had that groin injury.”
At this point, it’s common knowledge in MMA circles that Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley aren’t good friends. Both fighters have discredited each other’s fighting styles and skills frequently; from the looks of it, things haven’t improved yet.
In the latest Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry podcast episode, O’Malley trolled the hosts by leaving in just 30 seconds. In his brief time, he appreciated Kamaru Usman, asked Cejudo how he let Aljamain Sterling take him down so easily, and left.
As the UFC bantamweight champion left, Cejudo explained how the former’s camp hasn’t been ideal at all…
Henry Cejudo Fires Back At Sean O’Malley For Exposing His Injuries Ahead Of Merab Dvalishvili Fight
Cejudo and O’Malley are from the same city and unsurprisingly, they share training partners. “Triple C” remembered his loss to Dvalishvili and how O’Malley tweeted the injuries Cejudo was struggling with during his camp.
Following a similar route, the former UFC double champ mentioned that three of his training partners have attended O’Malley’s camp for the Dvalishvili fight. While avoiding specific details, Cejudo hinted that “Suga” cannot get up from bottom positions which is naturally a huge problem against a relentless grappler like Dvalishvili.
“He doesn’t know how to get off of bottom, he’s having trouble. I’ve had training partners, I have three training partners that gone out there that’s all told me the same s**t. Just like when I’m injured, he always knows, he’s tweeted out like hey, when I lost to Merab Dvalishvili, he knew that I was injured. You know, that’s what happens when you live in the same city. People know other people that will say s**t.”
This potential training issue, combined with their long history of trolling each other, explains why Cejudo is so confident about Dvalishvili walking out as the new UFC bantamweight champion at UFC 306.
“It’s a match made in heaven for a guy like Merab. He just needs to be here, he just needs to be careful in those two rounds and as the fight goes on, I can see Merab Dvalishvili f****g taking him out. Am I a snitch? Am I a snitch, Kamaru?”
The former champ also discussed how O’Malley might be compelled to fight him after losing to “The Machine”. Although he’s planning to move down to flyweight, he could halt those plans based on the outcome of Riyadh Season Noche UFC’s main event.
When Henry Cejudo became the UFC flyweight champion back in 2018, the division was in a very difficult position.
Demetrious Johnson had been such a dominant champion that the weight class didn’t feel competitive or exciting, at least as far as the UFC was concerned.
Cejudo beating “Mighty Mouse” in the rematch certainly helped to change that and his title reign did contribute to the promotion not getting rid of the division entirely, even if he did only defend the belt once before moving up a weight class and temporarily retiring.
Having suffered back-to-back defeats in his return to the bantamweight division, “Triple C” knows that earning a shot at reclaiming the 135-pound title isn’t going to be easy.
The likes of Tatsuro Taira and Amir Albazi could emerge as fresh faces for the champion to face if they can get past two opponents that Pantoja has already beaten multiple times in Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno.
Another option for his next challenge is Kai Kara-France, who recently defeated another of Pantoja’s former challengers but even then, that impressive win over Steve Erceg at UFC 305 came off the back of consecutive defeats.
With Muhammad Mokaev, who likely would have been next, now out of the picture, it would seemingly be a lot easier for Cejudo to work his way into another UFC title shot, especially considering the fact that he vacated the title rather than losing it.
He spoke on his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman about how the idea has been floating around his head as of late.
“I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit man of potentially going back down dude. You know, obviously, I do believe Merab’s going to win this [bantamweight] belt and I just feel like where I am in the picture at bantam, it just makes it a little harder dude to get back to the damn title dude. So I’ve been making, if I can get on a good diet if I decide to, it’s still not official [moving to flyweight], ‘cuz you know I know like them chimichangas, them gorditas.”
Usman proceeded to laugh at the idea of a former two-weight UFC champion and gold medallist struggling with a diet, only for Cejudo to state how difficult that cut is for him.
“The only reason why I say that bro is because flyweights no joke bro, like making that weight is like f****** cutting off a leg dude.
“It’s to be continued. I think there’s a lot of good fights too. It was a belt that I left, I left undefeated, I left as champion, I gave it to the flyweights, I saved the damn division and if I do decide, you know, I want to talk to Mick Maynard man. I mean I am the savior of the flyweights and they all know that so. I always felt like all the flyweights should pay a 20% royalty to the true king.”
Suffice to say, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley and his team haven’t sought the aid of Henry Cejudo ahead of their upcoming showdown with Merab Dvalishvili…
O’Malley is set to make his second defense of the title later this month inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere in Las Vegas, where he’ll headline the second edition of Noche UFC six months on from his five-round beatdown of Marlon “Chito” Vera.
Next looking to unseat “Sugar” is Dvalishvili, an in-form Georgian who has won 10 straight to earn his long-awaited first opportunity at UFC gold.
“The Machine’s” path to the top has included memorable performances against the likes of Marlon Moraes and Petr Yan, but he perhaps saved his best for last when he squared off against a former simultaneous two-division champ at UFC 298 this past February. Dvalishvili collided with Cejudo on the main card in Anaheim, further stalling “Triple C’s” pursuit of regaining the belt with a comfortable victory on the scorecards.
While that left Cejudo with 15 minutes experience of what the Georgian contender brings to the Octagon, O’Malley’s team doesn’t believe he could offer them any advice of value in the lead-up to September 14.
O’Malley’s Coach Not Interested In Tips From Ex-Dvalishvili Opponent Cejudo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoNd4U5WNok
During a recent interview for Bodog Canada, coach Tim Welch looked ahead to his man’s second assignment of 2024, which is currently set to see O’Malley’s challenger make the walk as the favorite.
“I don’t know if that (talking to Cejudo) would help,” Welch said. “Everyone I’ve talked to that tried to talk to Henry, even coaches, they have a tough time working with Henry because he thinks he’s god’s gift to this green Earth, and you can’t teach him nothing, and his way is the way. But clearly it’s not, because Merab ragdolled him. So that’s definitely not the guy we want tips from.”
O’Malley will look to do a better job at stifling Dvalishvili’s offense than Cejudo did come fight night at Las Vegas’ Sphere in less than two weeks’ time.
Having failed to reconquer one of the divisions he previously ruled over, former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo wants a crack at the other.
Cejudo simultaneously held both the bantamweight and flyweight titles in 2019, eventually relinquishing the latter in December 2019 and the former following his retirement post-knocking out Dominick Cruz in May 2020.
“Triple C’s” decision to hang up his gloves was widely questioned, with many predicting an eventual comeback. That came in 2023, but his return to action hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
Cejudo’s first fight back saw him challenge for the 135-pound throne against Aljamain Sterling. The 37-year-old fell on the wrong side of a narrow and widely debated split decision after five rounds.
Still, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist remains motivated to reach a mountaintop on MMA’s biggest stage once again. Moving forward, however, he looks to be targeting a different peak…
Cejudo Keen On Flyweight Return: ‘None Of Those Dudes Can Hang With Me’
“Right now, dude, I’ve been icing an injury…for quite some time,” Cejudo said. “I want to make sure that I’m 100 percent on getting back into training. It’s just allowing this injury to freakin’ heal, dude. Father Time is real, dude, I can finally admit it. It’s just little nagging things. But this particular thing, I want to make sure I don’t have to get surgery.
“If I allow myself to be patient and take my time, allow my injury to recover, then I’m gonna be 100 percent,” Cejudo continued. “Could I fight? I could. But am I gonna do the same thing I did my last fight and fight with a torn groin? I’m not gonna do that no more. I think I’ve learned my lesson.”
And in terms of his comeback fight, Cejudo suggested that he’s seriously considering adjusting his sights from regaining the bantamweight crown to recapturing the flyweight title.
“Once I’m ready, there’s a lot of options, man. There could be a potential return at flyweight. These are a lot of things I’m contemplating,” Cejudo stated. “With the bantamweight division getting hot and me kind of coming in, there’s been a lot of talk of potentially me going back down, man. Getting a fight with (Brandon) Moreno and winning the belt once again.
“I’m gonna be making a commitment to go out there and just do another run, another run at these titles,” Cejudo added. “It’s gonna be a big sacrifice on all of our parts. … I’m committed to getting back to the ‘Triple C’ again. … None of those dudes (at flyweight) can hang with me.”
Cejudo previously teased another run at 125 pounds during last month’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event. While commenting on Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape’s rivalry and subsequent dud inside the cage, the Olympic gold medalist teased potentially ‘saving’ the division.
Flyweights needed this rivalry, but the fight didnāt match its grudge. We need the Champ to stir the pot or the flyweights may be in jeopardy again. Who knows maybe triple C could save it again!? š
Cejudo went on to note in his conversation with King that should he decide on a flyweight return and get a green light from the UFC, he plans to complete the drop down in weight correctly, taking around six months.
With that in mind, fans can perhaps expect to be waiting a while before seeing the former ‘champ-champ’ back inside the Octagon.
Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman recently took on the role of matchmakers, speculating on Israel Adesanyaās next move following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.
Although Adesanya showcased sharp striking and strong defensive wrestling in a highly competitive fight, Du Plessis turned the tide in the fourth round with a relentless barrage of punches that left the Nigerian-born Kiwi staggered. With great presence of mind, “Stillknocks” swiftly secured a takedown and moved in to seal the deal with a rear-naked choke.
Following the defeat, a fleeting moment in the Octagon hinted that Adesanya might be contemplating retirement. As he removed his gloves, fans held their breath, thinking he was about to make an announcement during his post-fight interview with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier. However, it turned out that Adesanyaās gesture was merely a false alarm, with no real intention behind it.
Now, after suffering the first submission loss of his career and enduring back-to-back defeats, “The Last Stylebender” finds himself at a pivotal crossroads. To reclaim his place in the title picture, he’ll need to embark on a challenging climb back to the top.
Cejudo and Usman have pinpointed several middleweight contenders they believe would make compelling matchups for Adesanyaās next fight…
Cejudo and Usman Split On Adesanyaās Next Possible Opponent
During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo and Usman weighed in on who might be the ideal next opponent for Adesanya. “Triple C” proposed that the former middleweight champion should square off against Paulo Costa in a rematch, viewing it as a quick path back to title contention. Cejudo believes this matchup could position Adesanya for a shot at the winner of the anticipated Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland title fight.
“If I’m Israel Adesanya, I’m looking to fight a troll in Paulo ‘Borrachinha’ too, you know, do a rematch with ‘Mr. Secret Juice’āa winnable fight for him,” Cejudo said. “Then he just waits, sees, and hopes that a guy like Sean Strickland wins, and then boom, he’s at the title once again.”
Usman, however, took a different stance, questioning why Adesanya would bother facing Costa again when he’s already bested him. “The Nigerian Nightmare” instead argued that instead of revisiting old ground, Izzy should set his sights on new challenges.
“Why would we go ‘Borrachinha’?” Usman said. “He’s lost to Israel Adesanya, lost to Sean Strickland, lost to Robert Whittaker. Why would we go to ‘Borrachinha’? Give him new blood, give him something that’s going to be intriguing. And there are intriguing fights right now. You’ve got the French dude [Nassourdine] Imavovāthat is going to be a fantastic fight. You’ve got Khamzat Chimaev, which was the buildup for potentially that middleweight title picture when Israel was champion.
“Those are fantastic fights, those are huge, and those are amazing fights where I actually think you can’t say that’s not a good fight. Because we’ve had this debate before, and we both agreeāwhat happens when Israel Adesanya gets back up from Khamzat Chimaev? What happens when he’s able to not get taken down, stand there, and start to sharpshoot? We’ve had that debate before, and I like his chances.”
Kamaru Usman recently expressed his views on Dricus Du Plessis’ impressive win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.
“Stillknocks” retained his UFC middleweight championship in commanding style last weekend, submitting Adesanya with a fourth-round rear-naked choke in a thrilling contest at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
In a fiercely contested bout where neither fighter held back, Du Plessis displayed remarkable grit and determination. As the fight entered the championship rounds, the South African unleashed a relentless flurry of punches that left “The Last Stylebender” reeling. Seizing the momentum, the defending champion secured a takedown and swiftly transitioned to lock in a decisive submission.
The title of “African Kings” was a prestigious moniker bestowed upon Adesanya, alongside Usman and Francis Ngannou, during a time when the trio simultaneously held UFC belts, representing the continent on the global stage.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” provided a nuanced perspective about the heated feud heading into UFC 305 and also his thoughts on where Du Plessis fits into UFC’s African elite.
Usman Includes Du Plessis In UFC’s African Elite
During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman delved into Du Plessis’ victory over Adesanya at UFC 305. However, the conversation quickly escalated into a lively debate when the former UFC welterweight champion voiced his displeasure over Cejudoās lighthearted remark – where he dubbed Du Plessis the “Real African King.”
“I understand it was a whole marketing thing for Dricus Du Plessis, which he might not have necessarily meant in the way that Israel might have taken it,” Usman said. “But you have to be careful because it’s dangerousāit’s very, very dangerous. You have to be careful with what you say because now we’re in a position to influence the masses in the world. So, with powerāI say it all the timeāwith great power comes great responsibility. When you have that platform and you have that mic in your hand, you have to be careful with what you say.”
“The Nigerian Nightmare” went on to emphasize that Du Plessis is actually the fourth African champion.
“So to say, ‘Oh, I’m the real African,’ that’s completely crazy. And for you [Cejudo] to say that perpetually, ‘Oh, he’s the real African king,’ I know you’re just joking, but it’s notāthis is how division continues to be perpetuated. Dricus Du Plessis is the fourth African champion right now, so there are four horsemen. We’ve moved on from the three kings to where now it’s four horsemen. So to continue to perpetuate this whole ‘Oh, African king’ or this or that, that’s ridiculous.”
Being an analyst of the fight game means that you don’t always get to be positive about every fighter and that can come with some complications.
Via their podcast together, Pound 4 Pound, former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman break down the biggest fights in combat sports.
They both try to be honest and that means hurting some feelings along the way if people end up hearing their criticisms.
Whilst some fighters may take a private dislike to others for the things they hear them say during pre or post-fight comments, there are others that have no problem making the analyst aware of this.
Cejudo returned from the Paris Olympics on the most recent episode where he told a story about being confronted by one of the most intimidating men on the UFC roster.
Henry Cejudo Describes Paris Confrontation With Khamzat Chimaev
After giving Usman several guesses at who had wanted to fight him in Paris by telling “The Nigerian Nightmare” that it was a wrestler that he has shared the Octagon with, Cejudo eventually revealed that it was Khamzat Chimaev who had a problem with him.
Cejudo said that whilst he never found out from the middleweight contender himself, he expects that Chimaev’s issue with him stems from comments he has made in the past about his ability as a fighter.
“Oh f***, I don’t know dude. I think these dudes take s*** so personable dude, I don’t know. I think obviously me cheering for you, me cheering for ‘Borrachinha’, me kind of telling the truth a little bit because I think as an analyst, people get a little, you have to tell the truth and I think that’s my biggest, I think that’s what, yeah I am comical and whatnot but typically when I do say certain things, it’s because I mean it.”
Cejudo then went on to explain what actually happened between them, which essentially boiled down to Chimaev scolding him from far away whilst being surrounded by an entourage.
“So that’s why I think but I was here, he was at the ticket line, I was outside trying to get my damn tickets because everything was sold out and I don’t even think he could get in either and then he sees me and he says like, ‘Henry Cejudo, you’re a rat piece of s***’. I kind of had a feeling this dude kind of had a, because he’s blocking from a lot of social media stuff. So then I’m just like, ‘Why? Why am I a piece of s***?’ And he said I’m just a piece of s***, like this is probably like 50-feet away like from each other.”
“I’m a troll 100% but to the level of trolling that I do, I’m a level of extreme even more so as a competitor. Something like this could really hurt Khamzat in the sense of him being truly emotional because how many fights has he pulled out of and how many fans and trolls you think are trolling him and how upset could you get? And the last thing you want to do is actually fight emotional.”
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja’s coach, Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta of American Top Team, recently weighed on the potential opponents for “The Cannibal’s” title defense upon his return to the Octagon.
During a media interaction at UFC International Fight Week in June, Pantoja told journalists that he is already negotiating a major fight for his return against an opponent that “no one expects.”
While the Brazilian remained tight-lipped about the specific contender, his coach now has a particular name in mind…
‘Parrumpa’ Plays Matchmaker For Pantoja
During a recent interview with Sherdog.com, da Matta delved into the potential opponents for Pantoja’s next fight. The seasoned MMA coach highlighted that the most logical contender for Pantoja is the undefeated Japanese flyweight sensation Tatsuro Taira.
“I think that the most natural names will beāI mean, I think, to be honest, that the name that makes more sense right now is Tatsuro Taira,” da Matta said. “Because he’s already had some fights in the UFC; he finished [Alex] Perez. I’m not gonna say it was a fluke, but it was an injury. Nonetheless, it was a finish.”
He also explained why other contenders, such as Amir Albazi and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, do not make sense for Pantoja’s next title defense.
“I don’t think Albazi is ready. He’s been a long time getting hurt, trying to get better, so I don’t think he’s in a position to go for a title shot. His last fight was a while ago, and a lot of people thought he lostā¦ I think Cejudo doesn’t make any sense for the UFC because he retired when he was on top. He beat Dominick Cruz, which was amazing, then retired. He came back, wasn’t that great, lost, and went back to retirement. Now he’s going to come back in the weight division below 135 [pounds] and fight for the belt? And then what happens if he wins? Is he going to defend, or is he going to retire again?”
Following his TKO victory over Perez at a Fight Night event in June, Taira expressed his desire for a title shot against “The Cannibal” in 2024, aiming to become the first Japanese champion in UFC history. He is set to headline an upcoming event at the UFC Apex against former title challenger Brandon Royval on October 12.
Henry Cejudo recently voiced his dissatisfaction with the UFC’s ongoing support of Tony Ferguson, suggesting that the promotion should now shift its focus to new contenders and fresh talent.
Ferguson is gearing up for what could be the final chapter in his Octagon career. He is set to face off against Michael Chiesa in a welterweight clash on the main card of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, scheduled for this weekend at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.
Once hailed as the most intimidating fighter in the UFC lightweight division, “El Cucuy” surged through a 12-fight unbeaten streak, securing the interim championship with a victory over Kevin Lee at UFC 216 in October 2017 during that remarkable run.
However, the 40-year-old Californianās ascent took a sharp downturn following a tough defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in May 2020, which decisively shattered his unbeaten run. Currently, Ferguson is mired in a string of setbacks, tying the promotionās record for the longest losing streak with seven consecutive losses. “Triple C” believes itās time for the UFC to part ways with Fergusonā¦
Cejudo Claims Ferguson Is Long Past His Competitive Best
During a recent episode of Pound 4 Pound with former champ Kamaru Usman, Cejudo weighed in on the upcoming fight between Ferguson and Chiesa. The former UFC two-division champion argued that, given “El Cucuyās” string of defeats, the UFC should offer other fighters a chance to shine on the main card and consider releasing the veteran lightweight.
“I donāt like it personally; Iām surprised,” Cejudo said. “I think youāve got to give other people opportunities to be on main cards too. Tony has had his last, what, seven fights or six fights or something crazy in a row. Iām just like, man, heās not the same Tony who fought Kevin Lee before that. But heās not the same guy, man.”
“Triple C” further noted that Chiesa might pose a challenging matchup for Ferguson, given that “Maverick” is larger and enters the fight with fresher legs.
“I think Tony’s on his way out. I think if the UFC wants to give him a better fight, they should match him with someone whose style suits him a bit more. I think Chiesa is just stronger, especially moving up a weight class. I feel like Chiesa is bigger, stronger, and hasn’t endured the same level of punishment as Tony. Heās never been knocked out like Tony, and yeah, I do feel like this is a bad match.”
Even UFC CEO Dana White has openly expressed a desire for Ferguson to retire, yet the veteran believes he can reignite his career with a move back to the welterweight division.
Tom Aspinall came into UFC 304 this past weekend already holding the UFC record for the fastest average fight time for an athlete that has stepped foot in the Octagon several times.
This streak doesn’t appear to be going anywhere despite his want and expectation for the rematch with Curtis Blaydes to go past the opening rounds.
In nine total appearances since signing with the UFC, Aspinall is still yet to clock in a full 15-minute bout duration – even with all of his fights combined.
He got this one done even quicker than his average fight time of less than two minutes but a former champion questioned whether this will come back to bite him at a later stage.
Henry Cejudo Says Tom Aspinall’s Lack Of Cage Time Could Hurt Him Against Jon Jones
Even before this fight, despite Blaydes being a very tough opponent for Aspinall, the fight that many want to see the Brit in is the title unification clash with Jon Jones.
This is even more so the case after he avenged his one defeat in the UFC, which was caused by an injury, and made it look relatively simple.
During the UFC 304 recap episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Henry Cejudo made the case for why this incredibly small amount of fight time could be a disadvantage for Aspinall if he were to fight Jones.
We’re still yet to see so many elements of his game which an experienced foe like Jones is surely going to want to try and test, if they do ever meet.
“Last four fights bro! 3 minutes and 37 seconds, Jesus Christ. But, that can also be his worst enemy too because you know a guy like Jones, a guy like Jones is smart bro. A guy like Jones, we cannot doubt the dude. The dude could wrestle and the dude will probably make this dude fight that beast side. But I will say this man, Tom Aspinall’s agility and the fact he’s a counter puncher, like he really did counter that jab very well with that overhand bro. like his IQ on his feet is good but we also have to see him in those other areas.”
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 19, 2024, weāre taking a look at:
Jones targets November return
Oliveira gives back via charity auction once again
Cejudo says Cortez is better than she showed
Jon Jones Lays Out Specific Timeline For His Return Following Misdemeanour Charges
The UFC heavyweight champion was set to make his first title defense at UFC 295 last year in New York when facing off with Stipe Miocic.
When he withdrew due to injury, it was suspected that we could see “Bones” back one year later and that is his clear focus as of right now.
He posted the following message on X which with the specific timeframe of 16 weeks being mentioned, would schedule his return roughly for November 8th which is just three days out from being a full year since he was set to compete at UFC 295.
“Tomorrow, Iāll be 37 years old !! Iām 260 pounds 16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history. I feel like Iām in a great spot right before training camp ramps up. My form is far from perfect in these videos, but Iām happy with it considering the surgeries I recently had. 16 more weeks to become the beast , thatās exactly what I will do. #Champion2024.”
Tomorrow, Iāll be 37 years old !! Iām 260 pounds 16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history. I feel like Iām in a great spot right before training camp ramps up. My form is far from perfect in these videos, but Iām happy with it considering theā¦ pic.twitter.com/kpns3gJOk4
Charles Oliveira Raises Huge Sum For Children In Need Via Signed Glove Charity Auction
Charles Oliveira is continuing to help raise money for charity by using his own star status in Brazil to benefit others.
“Do Bronx” took part in a charity auction several months ago that was hosted by soccer star Neymar Jr. where a fan won the opportunity to get special access to his fight preparations.
The latest auction saw Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. take up the hosting role where a signed glove from Oliveira was up for grabs.
Through this one small act, the former UFC champion was able to raise a staggering $80,000 to go towards supporting children in need.
A UFC glove signed by Charles Oliveira was auctioned off for $80,000 at a charity auction hosted by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. last night. šš§š· pic.twitter.com/YQM8VgErYS
Cejudo, who admitted that he was somewhat surprised by the way that Namajunas approached the fight, believes that Cortez didn’t have her best performance on the night.
He said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast that the replacement fighter didn’t play to her strengths enough in the fight which ended up costing her, stating that she will be back stronger after learning this lesson.
āTracy didnāt show up, man. I just donāt know how to say it; man, thatās not the Tracy that we know. I watched the fight again, and she never once attempted the takedowns; after she attempted one takedown, thatās it, thereās no level changes involved. I talked to her on Saturday afterward and just said, āHey, just keep your head up, dude. It was an experience, but I just know youāre better than that, Tracyā.ā
Henry Cejudo recently weighed in on his teammate Tracy Cortez’s defeat against Rose Namajunas, suggesting that she had the potential to perform much better.
Last Saturday night, Cortez gave it her all but fell short on the judges’ scorecards, enduring her first UFC defeat in a grueling five-round battle against “Thug Rose,” who won by unanimous decision.
Despite the limited preparation time, the 30-year-old Arizona native went toe-to-toe for the full 25 minutes against the former two-time strawweight champion. However, her teammate at Fight Ready gym, Cejudo, believes that Cortez could have delivered a much stronger performance with a different game plan…
During a recent Pound 4 Pound podcast episode with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, “Triple C” dissected Cortez’s performance against Namajunas. He noted that “Thug Rose” effectively utilized her lateral movements and found better striking angles with well-timed takedowns, ultimately securing her victory over his teammate.
“Rose was able to use her lateral movements, pick her shots, and then eventually bring in takedowns, which kind of surprised me,” Cejudo said. “But I’m not surprised with her because she did the same thing to Weili [Zhang] towards the end of the round to secure the rounds.”
Cejudo further critiqued that Cortez lacked mindfulness throughout the fight and failed to capitalize on key takedown opportunities, a misstep that decisively cost her the bout.
“Tracy didn’t show up, man. I just don’t know how to say it; man, that’s not the Tracy that we know. I watched the fight again, and she never once attempted the takedowns; after she attempted one takedown, that’s it, there’s no level changes involved. I talked to her on Saturday afterward and just said, ‘Hey, just keep your head up, dude. It was an experience, but I just know you’re better than that, Tracy’.”
Cortez began the bout stronger, aiming to counter Namajunas’ speed and striking skills. Although she secured an early takedown, Cortez frequently found herself on the receiving end, being taken down multiple times by her opponent throughout the fight.
Alex Pereiraās recent successful defense of his light heavyweight title at UFC 303 has added the Brazilianās name to the ever-growing list of fighters who have successfully changed weight divisions within the UFC.
Today we take a look at some of the most notable examples (along with a few that didnāt fare quite as well).
CONOR McGREGOR
The original āchamp-champā. The first man to simultaneously hold championship belts in two different weight divisions. āThe Notoriousā signed with the UFC back in 2013 having won both the featherweight and lightweight titles in Cage Warriors and within two-and-a-half years he knocked out Jose Aldo to claim the 145-pound belt.
Image: Conor McGregor IG
Less than a year later, he put on perhaps the best display of his career when he beat Eddie Alvarez at the iconic Madison Square Garden to claim the 155-pound strap. He has also competed in the welterweight division, fighting Nate Diaz twice and Donald Cerrone. His recent (now postponed) comeback bout against Michael Chandler had been set to take place over five rounds at 170 pounds.
DANIEL CORMIER
“DC” enjoyed huge success fighting as a heavyweight prior to signing with the UFC in 2013. He beat Antonio āBig Footā Silva and Josh Barnett to win the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix in 2012 and began his UFC career with wins over former heavyweight champion Frank Mir and Roy Nelson, before making the decision to move down to 205 pounds as his teammate Cain Velazquez was the heavyweight champion at the time.
https://youtu.be/4NCHPFS7VzQ?si=PPthrGer2lHnEjBH
Cormier submitted Anthony āRumbleā Johnson in 2015 to claim the vacant light heavyweight title, and three years later, he made the decision to move up and challenge then-champion Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. He shocked the world by knocking out Miocic in the first round, although the Cleveland-born firefighter gained his revenge by beating Cormier twice in 2019/2020, retiring him from the sport.
Image: Robert Whittaker Instagram
ROBERT WHITTAKER
āBobby Knucklesā signed with the UFC back in 2012 off the back of some impressive performances on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes and had mixed results during his time competing in the welterweight division. He won three of his first five fights, but losses to Court McGee and Stephen āWonderboyā Thompson convinced Whittaker to test the waters at 185 pounds.
What followed was an eight-fight winning streak, wins over the likes of Yoel Romero and āJacareā Souza and the UFC middleweight title. Whittaker lost the belt to Israel Adesanya in 2022 but is still riding high in the division and finds himself in the title picture once again after his recent knockout victory over Ikram Aliskerov.
HENRY CEJUDO
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist won his first four fights inside the Octagon to earn a shot at then-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious āMighty Mouseā Johnson back in 2016. Although Cejudo was knocked out in the first round, he soon worked his way back into title contention with some impressive victories over Wilson Reis and Sergio Pettis.
The rematch was a much closer affair, and āTriple Cā ended Johnsonās record-breaking title reign and emerged victorious by way of a contentious split decision. A year later he moved up to 135lbs to challenge Marlon Moraes for the vacant UFC bantamweight title. He finished Moraes and then beat former champion Dominick Cruz in his first title defence in 2020, before relinquishing his belt and announcing his retirement, in what seemed like a power play due to contract issues with the UFC.
3 Fighters Who Moved Down A Weight Division…With Disastrous Results!
TJ DILLASHAW
TJ Dillashaw enjoyed two separate runs as UFC bantamweight champion. He shocked the MMA world when he destroyed Renan Barao at UFC 173 to capture the 135-pound belt. After losing the title to Dominck Cruz two years later, he regrouped and beat Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker to earn another shot at gold.
He knocked out former teammate Cody Garbrandt (who had won the belt from Cruz a year earlier), and after finishing āNo Loveā again in a rematch, made the decision to cut to 125 pounds to challenge Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title.
The decision proved disastrous. Dillashaw was knocked out after just 32 seconds, and a couple of months later it was announced he had been suspended for two years by USADA due to testing positive for EPO in the lead-up to the Cejudo fight.
He returned after his suspension ended and beat Cory Sandhagen to earn another shot at the 135-pound belt but went into the fight against Aljamain Sterling carrying a serious shoulder injury and was finished easily. He has since walked away from the sport.
CODY GARBRANDT
Cody Garbrandt came into that first bantamweight title fight with TJ Dillashaw unbeaten at 10-0 and riding high off the back of a career-best performance against Dominick Cruz. Ā The two losses he suffered at the hands of Dillashaw seemed to affect him badly. He was also knocked out by Pedro Munhoz in his next fight, and although he would claim a highlight reel finish over Raphael Assuncao in 2020, a defeat to Rob Font soon afterwards convinced him a change was needed.
Image: Cody Garbrandt Instagram
With no discernible path back into the bantamweight picture, āNo Loveā decided to make the cut to 125 pounds for a fight against Australian flyweight contender Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. Another first-round knockout defeat followed, and Garbrandt stepped away from the spotlight for a much-needed break.
His return to the bantamweight division has been a little less calamitous. Wins over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher, followed by a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300, have hinted that perhaps his future lies slightly outside of the title picture for now, but most definitely should be at 135 pounds.
DAN HOOKER
āThe Hangmanā picked up a string of impressive wins in the UFCās lightweight division between 2017 and 2021, beating the likes of Paul Felder, Al Iaquinta, Gilbert Burns, and Jim Miller. His record at 155 pounds during that five-year spell sits at eight wins and four defeats, but losses against the biggest names in the division such as Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev convinced the Australian to think about a move down to featherweight.
Image: UFC.com
His featherweight debut against Arnold Allen in London, England ended disastrously. At six-feet tall, Hooker looked frail and weakened at 145 pounds and Allen destroyed him in little over two minutes. Hooker has since returned to the lightweight division and reeled off victories over Claudio Puelles and Jalin Turner.
One thing we know for certain: finding the right weight class is of paramount importance for a fighter. It can be the defining factor between a promising career and a championship legacy in the highly demanding world of the UFC.
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