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Tag: Henry Cejudo

  • Henry Cejudo Doubles Down On ‘Poatan’ Criticism Despite Dominant UFC 303 Win: ‘Even If Pereira Does Get A Bit Butthurt…’

    Henry Cejudo Doubles Down On ‘Poatan’ Criticism Despite Dominant UFC 303 Win: ‘Even If Pereira Does Get A Bit Butthurt…’

    Henry Cejudo is still not sold on Alex Pereira’s prowess, even after the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion showcased an exceptional performance at UFC 303.

    “Poatan” retained his title, most recently securing an impressive second-round head kick knockout of his former foe, Jiri Prochazka, during the main event of the UFC’s last pay-per-view on June 29.

    Pereira, in just nine Octagon appearances, has established an unparalleled legacy. He has become only the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions. Even more impressive, he is the first to capture titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, accomplishing this remarkable feat in just two years.

    The 37-year-old Brazilian has made an indelible mark on the MMA community, with many considering him among the greatest fighters in UFC history. However, former two-division champion Cejudo remains skeptical of Pereira’s accomplishments…

    Cejudo Argues Pereira Needs To Do More To Be Deemed The Best

    During a recent episode of Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman, the two former UFC champions explored Pereira’s meteoric rise in the MMA world. “Triple C” emphatically insisted that the Brazilian striking phenom still has more to prove against more well-rounded opponents before he can be crowned among the greatest.

    “We have to see him go up against are a little more well-rounded, Cejudo said. “I don’t take things personal. I think, to me, it’s even more cool to create a character because whether you’re right or wrong, people are going to talk sh*t, or people are going to do X, Y, and Z, but these are keyboard wars. Even if Pereira does get a bit butthurt, man, take it to heart.”

    “Does he have beautiful striking? 100%. I want to see more. I wanna see him to see him against guys against a real mixed martial artists, and then we can gauge it whether he is maybe even so pound-for-pound.”

    This isn’t the first time Cejudo has voiced doubts about Pereira’s skills. In a previous episode of his podcast earlier this month, the former Olympic gold medalist criticized “Poatan” for his perceived lack of completeness as a fighter, arguing that he wouldn’t fare well against formidable wrestlers like Magomed Ankalaev.

  • Kamaru Usman Slams Henry Cejudo For Suggesting Nate Diaz Walks Into UFC Title Shot Next: ‘You Were Two-Division Champ & Fought Merab!’

    Kamaru Usman Slams Henry Cejudo For Suggesting Nate Diaz Walks Into UFC Title Shot Next: ‘You Were Two-Division Champ & Fought Merab!’

    Following his win over Jorge Masvidal in boxing this past weekend, Nate Diaz expressed interest in avenging a previous loss of his.

    Diaz is keen to run it back with the current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, despite no longer being signed to the promotion.

    He faced “Rocky” back at UFC 263 in his second to last appearance inside the Octagon, where he lost the fight via unanimous decision.

    During a recent podcast, former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman disagreed on whether this rematch taking place is a possibility.

    Henry Cejudo & Kamaru Usman Debate Nate Diaz Walking Straight Into A UFC Title Shot

    Cejudo believes that given the name value and attention that Diaz brings to the table, he could potentially step back into a title shot. He said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast that a rematch with Edwards could potentially happen if both sides wanted it.

    “He called out Leon Edwards for the strap at 170-pounds, you don’t think Dana would give it to him? You don’t think Dana would give him that fight? Remember dude, the UFC is an entertainment company and if he’s able to bring those pay-per-view numbers and especially if a guy like Leon Edwards calls for the fight, he could potentially get it.”

    Usman, interrupted his podcast co-host, passionately disagreeing with Cejudo on the options that are currently available to Diaz.

    He used Cejudo’s own career as an example of why the Stockton fighter wouldn’t be able to jump right back in at the top in the UFC, despite his profile.

    “Let’s get serious here Henry, what?! You think, ‘Oh yes I want to fight Leon Edwards’ and he just jumps in and he gets a title shot? Are you serious? Come on Henry. Henry you were two-division champion and you came back and you fought Merab so basically, you had to earn the shot at Sean O’Malley. So you’re saying that he should just definitely come in and get it just because he has numbers?”

    Usman also countered the point made by Cejudo regarding the narrative of the fight between Edwards and Diaz that went down in 2021.

    Despite dominating the fight, the Brit had to face some adversity in the final moments of the contest after being caught clean by his opponent.

    Usman does not believe that this one aspect is enough for a rematch to make sense between them at this stage in both men’s careers.

    “He landed it, it was an incredible punch but that does not warrant him all because of that. He had one moment in the fight, we’re going to give him a title shot just because… get serious bro!”

  • Former Glory Champion & Last Man To Defeat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Training With Henry Cejudo: ‘Chama, We Comin’!’

    The last man to defeat Alex Pereira in the kickboxing ring has been quietly going about the process of gaining experience in the world of professional MMA.

    Artem Vakhitov held the Glory Kickboxing light heavyweight world title between 2016 and 2019, before losing it by split decision to “Poatan” in January of 2021. He reclaimed the belt by winning an immediate rematch against the Brazilian later that year, before Pereira moved on to the UFC.

    With a kickboxing record of 23-6 and five Glory title defences to his name, Vakhitov is certainly one of the most decorated and dangerous strikers in the world today. His professional MMA debut against Ashraf Bashandy in June of last year didn’t quite go to plan when an unfortunate landing barely a minute into the bout resulted in a dislocated elbow and a TKO loss for the Russian.

    Vakhitov has rebounded this year in impressive fashion however, by picking up first-round stoppage victories over Siyavush Salkhov and Valisher Khambaev. Following on from a short but impressive amateur career in which he picked up a multitude of submission wins, it certainly seems the Russian is a fighter to keep an eye on.

    Former Glory Champion Who Beat Pereira Links Up With ‘Triple C’

    In an interesting development, it has emerged this week that Vakhitov has teamed up with a new coach in order to develop his skills in MMA.

    Former UFC two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo posted a video of himself and Vakhitov to social media from the stands at UFC 303 this past weekend, during which he seemed to drop hints that the pair may have Alex Pereira in their sights.

    “So guys…allow me to introduce you guys to who’s training with the ‘Triple C’ next” said Cejudo. “I train the best in the world but guess what? Now I got the six-time Glory world champ, the last guy to defeat Alex Pereira, and we have a message for you!”

    The former Olympic gold medallist turned his phone to show Vakhitov, and the Russian simply replied “Chama.” ‘Triple C’ ended the message with, “We comin’”.

    After the successful crossovers of former Glory champions Pereira and Israel Adesanya into the Octagon, is history about to repeat itself?

  • MMA News Today: UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler, McGregor Involved In Social Media Throwdown, UFC Commentator Feels Michael ‘Venom’ Page Displayed ‘Lack Of Depth’ In Loss To Ian Garry, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor all trade shots
    • Sanko says “MVP” needs the right dance partner
    • Cejudo still has Pereira grappling concerns

    Top UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor Engage In Social Media Crossfire

    Some of the top names in the UFC’s lightweight division have been exchanging blows on social media with Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler all letting their feelings about one another be known.

    The conversation was sparked by a post from Poirier where he said if Arman Tsarukyan is unable to fight for the lightweight title, he would be happy to jump back in with Makhachev following their fight at UFC 302.

    “The Diamond” had also been firing back at Conor McGregor in response to the recent social media posts that were made by “The Notorious” in reference to their previous encounters.

    Makhachev replied to Poirier’s message, as did fellow top lightweight Chandler who then also went back-and-forth with the lightweight champion due to their history inside the Octagon.

    The full series of crossfire posts shows that there is no love lost between any of the four lightweights.

    Laura Sanko Says Michael ‘Venom’ Page Needs The Right Match-Up After UFC 303 Defeat

    Michael “Venom” Page was defeated by Ian Garry at UFC 303 after the Irishman used his grappling to secure the victory.

    Whilst Page had some strong moments on the feet, he was taken down and out-grappled by one of the welterweight contenders who isn’t known for this particular skill set.

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko spoke in an interview with Submission Radio about how this fight showed some of the flaws in Page’s game.

    She said that whilst there are still plenty of options for “MVP” in the UFC, it needs to be against the right opponent after what we saw this past weekend.

    “Yeah, he definitely showed a little bit of lack of depth in terms of the details of the ground game and I think anybody that really appreciates the fine art of jiu-jitsu is going to spot those.

    “There are still plenty of really interesting, fun fights for MVP on the UFC roster. The truth of the matter is he needs the right stylistic match-up.”

    Henry Cejudo Says The Jury Is Still Out On Alex Pereira And His Grappling

    Former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t ready to start calling Alex Pereira the best in the world right now due to one concern.

    “Triple C” spoke on his Pound 4 Pound podcast about how “Poatan” is still yet to face an elite grappler that will be able to take him out of his comfort zone.

    Despite being able to deal with other strikers in emphatic fashion, as he did in the main event of UFC 303, a huge test awaits him in Magomed Ankalaev.

    Cejudo also referred to the fact that Pereira is yet to mention a potential super fight with the heavyweight champion Jon Jones because of the wrestling pedigree that “Bones” brings to the table.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • Henry Cejudo Still Unconvinced By Alex Pereira Despite UFC 303 KO Win: ‘He’s Not Mentioning Jon Jones Because I Think He Knows…’

    Alex Pereira saved UFC 303 by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the second round with a vicious head kick. He walked out of the Octagon with minimal damage, and fans are already discussing his next fight.

    At light heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev is seemingly the only fighter with a case for a title challenge. However, more fans want “Poatan” to move up a weight class and have a super fight with Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.

    Apart from the loss to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has mostly looked invincible in the UFC. Is he really that good or is he yet to be properly tested by a superior grappler? Here’s Henry Cejudo’s two cents on the matter…

    Henry Cejudo Expects Alex Pereira To Fight ‘Well-Rounded Wrestler’ Before Taking On Jon Jones

    In a recent episode uploaded on the Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, the former UFC champions discussed the UFC 303 main event. “Triple C” congratulated the Brazilian but quickly pointed out how the outcome wasn’t surprising because the fight didn’t go to the ground.

    According to Cejudo, Procházka should’ve avoided a battle on the feet as Pereira will always have an edge there. He also thinks that the UFC light heavyweight champion still needs to beat a remarkable wrestler like Ankalaev to prove his well-roundedness.

    “It’s not until Alex Pereira really fights somebody like Ankalaev where I’m gonna say, ‘okay, this guy is the…’ is he the real deal? 100 percent but, could he get past a well-rounded wrestler? Someone who’s going to bring in the grappling?”

    “Triple C” criticized Pereira’s past opponents in the UFC’s light heavyweight division for trying to strike with him. Like many, he believes that fights with heavyweights Jones and Aspinall will truly test his mettle because of the wrestling.

    “The IQ of the light heavyweight division, dude, I think everybody just wants to strike, Kamaru. I think that’s where everything goes wrong.”

    Cejudo claims that Pereira hasn’t talked about fighting Jones because it won’t be his ideal matchup. This is also why the former UFC double champ is excited to see Pereira vs. Ankalaev at light heavyweight first.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Makes Henry Cejudo Comparison To Back Up Dana White’s Contention That Jon Jones Is P4P #1 Over Islam Makhachev

    Following Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, UFC President Dana White had some thoughts on the current pound-for-pound debate.

    Currently, the top spot on the list is occupied by the 155-pound champion who sits one place above the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    White firmly believes that the answer is “Bones” but others have questioned whether his recent activity should factor into the equation.

    Of course, it is a hypothetical argument to be having as the entire list is based around if every fighter was the same weight, who would be the best.

    Makhachev certainly has the edge when you look at his current strength of schedule and recent performances but it is impossible to look past Jones when you take overall careers into account.

    Aljamain Sterling Backs Up Dana White’s Comments With Henry Cejudo Example

    When he decided to vacate the light heavyweight title and move up to heavyweight, it was three years before fans saw Jones compete again.

    His injury ahead of UFC 295 last November hasn’t helped the questions about his activity either.

    Aljamain Sterling, however, said on his YouTube channel that he backs White’s argument because of Jones’ last fight.

    The former light heavyweight king took three years off, came back and made it look easy when he submitted Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in just over two minutes.

    Sterling used the example of Henry Cejudo to demonstrate his point, stating how “Triple C” attempted to come back and was unsuccessful in his title challenge at UFC 288 – which shows why the significance of the Gane victory can’t be overlooked.

    “I was about to say, three years off and to come back and do that to the number one guy like Dana said, I actually really agree with that.  

    “Jon Jones, what he did, is super impressive. Henry Cejudo came back, he tried to do what he tried to do and look what happened. He’s ‘the greatest combat athlete of all time’, no disrespect to him but…” 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjIQkObyITU

  • Henry Cejudo Alleged To Have Rejected UFC Main Event Against Sean O’Malley’s Teammate

    Henry Cejudo Alleged To Have Rejected UFC Main Event Against Sean O’Malley’s Teammate

    According to coach Tim Welch, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo closed the door on a possible main event against a rising contender.

    Cejudo hasn’t had the best time of things since returning from a short-lived retirement last May. After narrowly falling short of regaining the bantamweight crown against Aljamain Sterling, “Triple C” fell to 0-2 since his comeback at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February, where he was beaten by Merab Dvalishvili. 

    While the latest setback sparked talk of a return to retirement for the veteran, he was quick to commit to the continuation of his fighting career. He’s since been assessing his options, calling to fight the likes of Petr Yan and Rob Font.

    He’s also been dismissing some matchups. That was publicly evident in the case of Song Yadong, whose invitation to Cejudo for a showdown in China was shut down by the former champ-champ on social media.

    And when it comes to being rejected by the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, “The Kung Fu Kid” is seemingly not alone…

    O’Malley’s Coach Claims Cejudo Turned Down Phillips Headliner

    A recent report from @MagicM_MMABets on social media claimed that Cejudo was being lined up to headline a UFC Fight Night opposite #11-ranked contender Kyler Phillips.

    Phillips, a teammate of bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley’s, has won three straight since a controversial loss to Raulian Paiva in 2021, most recently getting the better of divisional veteran Pedro Munhoz at UFC 299 in Miami.

    While “Matrix” is pursuing a spot inside the top 10 that a matchup with Cejudo would present an opportunity for, “Triple C” has been accused of rejecting the clash.

    “(Cap) Henry turned it down,” Phillips’ coach Tim Welch wrote in response to the report.

    Despite going 0-2 since his return to active competition, Cejudo still currently occupies the #5 spot in the bantamweight pecking order.

    Given his focus on the likes of Yan and Font, he’s evidently pursuing a more prominent name than Phillips for his next outing.

  • Henry Cejudo Says He’ll Corner Petr Yan On One Condition, Yan Responds

    UFC interim bantamweight champion Petr Yan is allegedly in need of cornermen and Henry Cejudo might be willing to join Sean O’Malley in being up for the job if his terms are met.

    It was reported by multiple outlets earlier this week that members of Yan’s corner were denied visas to travel to the U.S. for UFC 273. Yan will face bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling in a title rematch about a year in the making.

    After news broke of Yan’s situation, he reached out to retired former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo to help out.

    “Hey coach [Henry Cejudo] what are your plans on April 9th?” Yan asked.

    Just hours after Yan reached out to Cejudo on social media, O’Malley recorded a video in which he appeared to agree to help corner Yan for his upcoming fight.

    “One corner spot is taken by [Sean O’Malley],” Yan responded.

    Henry Cejudo would respond by laying out his one condition to corner the Russian.

    “Get me a booster seat and I’ll work your corner…you kneed me” #andnew“

    Yan, ever the tough negotiator, responded with firmness.

    “I have one condition as well, don’t try to give me your shitty advices, just bring the water and ice bag between the rounds and we’re good.”

    Yan earned the interim title over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267 after Sterling withdrew from their originally scheduled rematch due to Sterling’s health issues. The rematch was postponed a second time for UFC 273 after the UFC 272 booking fell apart for conflicting reasons.

    Yan lost via disqualification to Sterling at UFC 259 after landing an illegal knee late in the fight. Before the infraction, Yan had taken control of the fight and had appeared to be on his way to a successful title defense.

    O’Malley and Yan share a bit of history from a distance. Among other interactions, O’Malley has predicted that a fight with Yan down the line would be the biggest fight in UFC bantamweight history.

    Despite Yan searching for help from Cejudo, the two have gone back-and-forth on social media over the past couple of years. Yan has questioned the timing of Cejudo’s retirement while Cejudo has previously teased coming out of retirement to fight him.

    Cejudo has recently teased a UFC comeback and threw his name into the conversation to fight Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 273. However, the UFC opted to go with Chan Sung Jung (aka The Korean Zombie) instead of Cejudo.

    Yan hasn’t had any visa issues ahead of UFC 273 and it appears that his cornermen are the only ones impacted by recent traveling challenges.

    Do you think we’ll actually see Sean O’Malley or Henry Cejudo corner Petr Yan at UFC 273?

  • Cejudo Says He’d Stop McGregor In Training Critique, Mac Hits Back

    Former UFC double-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t impressed by Conor McGregor’s striking that he showed off in a recent social media post.

    Cejudo and McGregor have bickered back and forth on social media on and off for months. While Cejudo remains a retired UFC fighter, he remains active on social media and is also a commentator for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion.

    Cejudo is never afraid to speak his mind when it comes to his UFC colleagues, including former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and former opponent Dominick Cruz.

    Despite being known mostly for his elite grappling during his time in the Octagon, the Olympic wrestler isn’t impressed with McGregor’s boxing. In a recent tweet, he criticized McGregor for his technique when hitting pads.

    “The same reason why you let people chew that front leg [Conor McGregor] is the same reason why I would stop you,” Cejudo said. “What do you say I make my comeback at 155?“

    McGregor, who has had his fair share of social media back-and-forths with his rivals, quickly hit back at Cejudo in a reply.

    “Shut up u little fart,” McGregor replied.

    Cejudo had hinted at a UFC comeback against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski before UFC president Dana White booked ‘The Korean Zombie’ for UFC 273. He hasn’t fought since he retired following UFC 249 in 2020.

    McGregor is preparing for a UFC comeback later this year after snapping his leg in his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. While Cejudo is unafraid of McGregor, the Irishman is the more likely of the two to return to competition in 2022.

    What do you make of the Henry Cejudo/Conor McGregor Twitter beef?

  • Henry Cejudo’s Intuition Says He Won’t Fight In The UFC Again

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo is beginning to lose hope in a UFC comeback in light of his recent jabs at UFC President Dana White.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since his last bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. In his post-fight interview, he announced his retirement from the UFC and officially vacated the title shortly thereafter.

    But Cejudo has hinted at a UFC comeback, most recently volunteering to fight against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 273. This was after Max Holloway pulled out of the Volkanovski fight due to an injury. However, the UFC opted to go with ‘The Korean Zombie’ as a replacement.

    Cejudo has recently claimed that he demanded too much money and that was the reasoning behind not getting the Volkanovski fight. In the meantime, he has coached various UFC fighters at Fight Ready in Arizona.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Cejudo addressed his status towards a UFC comeback and sounded less than optimistic.

    “I don’t think so,” Cejudo said. “I think the way that things are going, I think I talked too much sh*t. I think I picked on (UFC president) Dana (White) a little too much. He’s just not going to pay me. I’ve accepted that. This is why I’m able to throw out the kitchen sink from now on because it’s never going to change. It’s not going to change.”

    Cejudo went on to criticize White and the UFC’s pay model in light of recent deals with Jorge Masvidal and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

    “He’s going to pay Jorge. He’s going to pay the 1 percent. He’s going to pay the entertainers – and that’s partially what I am. I’m an entertainer. I could sell a damn fight and I can fight better than all those dudes combined. It sucks, but that’s just the way it is. It’s just business. I ain’t mad. (I’m) maybe a little frustrated, but I ain’t mad. That’s just life.”

    Masvidal and Adesanya earned mega deals leading up to their recent fights, prompting frustration from Cejudo. His issues with the UFC have allegedly been financially related and could’ve potentially led to his retirement.

    Cejudo is regarded as arguably one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time. After earning a gold medal in Olympic Wrestling, he earned UFC titles at flyweight and bantamweight and wrapped up his UFC tenure with six straight wins.

    Do you think Henry Cejudo will fight in the UFC again?

  • Henry Cejudo Challenges UFC Following Adesanya, Masvidal Deals

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo was taken aback when Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal got recent mega deals and he didn’t.

    Cejudo retired following his successful bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He hasn’t fought since but has teased a potential UFC return to face featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

    Cejudo put his name in the sweepstakes to replace Max Holloway against Volkanovski, but Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as The Korean Zombie) ended up getting the fight over him. UFC president Dana White has remained adamant that Cejudo will need to fight another contender before getting a title shot.

    Adesanya and Masvidal both secured new UFC deals ahead of their fights at UFC 271 and UFC 272. Adesanya’s deal has been rumored to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history, while Masvidal’s new deal makes him among the Top 3 highest paid.

    Cejudo left the UFC after being in a contract dispute with the promotion. But after getting word of Adesanya and Masvidal’s new contracts, Cejudo isn’t sure why he wasn’t or hasn’t been offered a similar deal.

    “Money talks, bulls*** walks, and I’m not walking, I’m not signing up to USADA until I really get what I deserve,” Cejudo said in an interview with The Underground. “They’re gonna give Israel Adesanya, who doesn’t know how to do a damn moonwalk, can’t win a second belt, can’t defend a takedown to save his life, or Jorge Masvidal, he’s got 17 losses in his career, and they can’t give the ‘Triple C’ some of that cash?

    Henry Cejudo
    Photo via Instagram @henrycejudo

    “If you really think about it, it’s almost like, why do I do this? If the UFC’s just gonna handpick people to decide to pay, because notice what they’re doing now: a week before the fight, they’re starting to give this big payday to those guys because they want to keep the one-percenters happy so nobody else talks s***. I am those one-percenters, so how come they ain’t paying me?” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Cejudo has helped train top UFC stars such as former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo down at Fight Ready in Arizona. Though it remains unclear whether or not he still intends to return to MMA at some point, he has recently expressed interest in a fight against Max Holloway as a return fight.

    If Cejudo ends up returning to the UFC, it’s apparent that the former champion will need a pay raise in comparison to his previous contract. In the meantime, the idea of a super fight between Cejudo and Volkanovski seems dead.

    Do you think Henry Cejudo will eventually return to the UFC?

  • Henry Cejudo Puts Himself Above GSP In UFC GOAT Conversation

    Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo holds himself in high regard, even higher than the legend Georges St-Pierre.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the Octagon since defeating Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He announced his retirement in his post-fight interview but has since hinted at a UFC comeback.

    Similar to St-Pierre’s title win over Michael Bisping, Cejudo has alluded to a matchup one division up against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Cejudo threw his name into the conversation to fill in against Volkanovski before the UFC opted to book Chan Sung Jung for the bout.

    Nowadays, Cejudo remains a fixture of MMA culture. He has coached multiple current and former UFC champions such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Jon Jones, along with podcasting.

    During a recent segment of The Triple C & Schmo Show, Cejudo listed his top-5 UFC fighters of all time and put himself above St-Pierre in the discussion.

    “These are my top five. No. 1 Jon Jones. No. 2 Demetrious Johnson. No. 3 Anderson Silva. And you know what, I’ve been thinking about it a lot Schmo, I am actually No. 4. I used to put GSP there, but I am actually No. 4, just for the fact that I won both my bouts with [the] two greatests. Just because Bisping had a championship at that time doesn’t mean he was the best in the world.

    Canadian Georges St-Pierre wins in his return to UFC | Offside
    Georges St-Pierre

    “I literally beat the best guys in the world. I beat three Hall of Famers in my last four fights. Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz. I am gonna have to put myself in that GOAT mountain man. I used to think more of GSP. But in reality, I just feel he cherry picked, man, with all the due respect to the legend. So, I am gonna have to put him at No. 5.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    St-Pierre went back into retirement following his win over Bisping at UFC 217. He teased a potential matchup with Khabib Nurmagomedov in recent years, but the fight never materialized.

    Cejudo has the chance to prove his ranking of himself if he’s able to become a three-division champion. For now, it’s unclear if he’ll ever return to the cage.

    What are your thoughts on Henry Cejudo’s Top-5 all-time list?

  • Volkanovski: If I Was Going To Fight Cejudo, It Would’ve Been At UFC 273

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is hinting that a potential matchup against Henry Cejudo might’ve already come and gone.

    Volkanovski is slated to face Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as “The Korean Zombie” at UFC 273. Volkanovski was originally supposed to face Max Holloway in a trilogy next before Holloway suffered an injury shortly after the booking was announced.

    One of the first names that put themselves in the conversation to step up and fight Volkanovski was Henry Cejudo. He has long hinted at a UFC comeback to challenge for the featherweight title and the chance to become a three-division world champion.

    The two have gone back-and-forth in a series of interviews and social media posts, but a fight between them hasn’t materialized. UFC President Dana White has been non-committal regarding a potential superfight between Volkanovski and Cejudo.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Volkanovski gave his thoughts on a clash with Cejudo.

    “I don’t even mind the guy,” Volkanovski said. “Obviously, we have a bit of fun and he’s always trying to troll me and get under my skin and make that fight happen.

    “Again, I get people who are going to say I’m running and whatnot. The UFC never brought up his name, ever. And it was never mentioned to me, it was never even close to an option. How am I going to take it seriously if the UFC doesn’t take it seriously? And I don’t even know if Henry is really taking it serious. But man, I like the guy. He’s got great skills. You’ve you’ve done great things in other divisions. And you retired, so it just doesn’t make sense.

    “If there was ever a time that I was going to do it, it probably would be now,” Volkanovski added. “But again, the UFC weren’t going to bring it up. They’re thinking that what’s the point? You don’t deserve it. And then what if you do somehow get it done — you’re just going to retire and [drop the belt again]? Even though I heard Henry say, ‘Oh, if I do that, I’ll stay,’ I don’t think they believe that. But you wouldn’t have had to worry about that anyway.”

    White has been critical of how Cejudo and his management have handled their desire for a fight with Volkanovski. Cejudo announced his retirement from MMA following his bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.

    Holloway has been cleared to resume training following his injury and could serve as the backup to UFC 273. While nothing is certain regarding the featherweight title picture, Holloway will more than likely get the Volkanovski/Korean Zombie winner next.

    Meanwhile, it appears that the Volkanovski vs. Cejudo window for a fight has been closed, at least for now.

    What is your prediction for a hypothetical fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Henry Cejudo?

  • Shields Says She Wants Cejudo To Teach Her Wrestling, Cejudo Responds

    Claressa Shields is hoping former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo can teach her wrestling as she continues to fight in MMA.

    Shields is considered arguably the best pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world, as she’s 11-0 and is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing—WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO simultaneously, in two weight classes. She has had multiple titles in three different weight classes and is undisputed in two.

    However, she has been critical about boxing’s pay and how much interest they show in women, so she signed with the PFL to also fight in MMA. However, after winning her debut, she lost her second fight after being outgrappled and is now looking to turn to Cejudo to help her.

    “I want Henry Cejudo to show me how to wrestle,” Shields said.

    Henry Cejudo Responds To Shields’ Request

    Henry Cejudo saw the comments from Shields and seemed interested in taking her up on her offer, which the boxer is happy about.

    “Goats recognize goat. Maaahhhhh,” Cejudo wrote, with Shields responding with “Let’s go! I’m ready to learn!”

    It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Henry Cejudo offer to train Claressa Shields as since retiring from MMA, he has taken up a coaching role at Fight Ready. Cejudo has recruited the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo, Weili Zhang, and Jiří Procházka to Fight Ready and has been coaching all three of them, including being in Figueiredo’s corner at UFC 270.

    Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and was a great wrestler in MMA, which led him to win titles in two different weight classes. His expertise would no doubt help Shields, who was taken down multiple times in both her fights. And in the second fight, wrestling was the reason she lost.

    However, if she can learn enough to just keep the fights standing, she will be dangerous, as she has power in her hands and is a phenomenal boxer overall.

    Do you think Claressa Shields and Henry Cejudo will train with one another?

  • Stephen Thompson Explains Why Henry Cejudo’s Size Impacts His Draw

    UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson has explained why Henry Cejudo’s size has impacted his global draw and ability to demand certain fights.

    Not many individuals boast combat sports accolades as impressive as Cejudo. As well as being an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, a feat he achieved in Beijing in 2008, “Triple C” is a former two-division UFC champion, having held gold at both flyweight and bantamweight. No other fighter has won an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title.

    But despite becoming only the second fighter to defend titles in two weight classes and defeating the likes of TJ Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, and Demetrious Johnson, Cejudo is rarely talked about in the conversation for the greatest of all time and certainly isn’t looked at the same as many other former champs by a portion of the fanbase.

    That sentiment was on display recently when the Californian’s intention to return from retirement to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title was laughed off by many, including UFC President Dana White.

    Thompson Believes ‘Size Matters’

    Having initially called out the 145-pound king last year in the hope of becoming the first three-division champ in UFC history, Cejudo had another crack at booking the matchup in recent days when Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with Volkanovski.

    “The Messenger” was met with a claim that it wouldn’t make sense and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung was granted the shot instead.

    In response, Cejudo pointed out that the great Georges St-Pierre was granted the luxury of returning from a long layoff to move up to a new division and challenge for another title. ‘What’s the difference?’ Cejudo exclaimed. According to two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, it’s size.

    During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the #7-ranked 170lber suggested size matters when it comes to being a global draw and attraction, and being a fighter who’s in a position to make demands.

    “It’s the size. It’s the size that matters,” Thompson said. “Like, guys look at these 125ers, 135ers, and, no beef, probably a lot of these guys can beat me, but what I’m saying is, they (fans) don’t look at these guys… everybody knows the heavyweights, everyone looks at Francis Ngannou, but when they look at the smaller guys they’re just not appealing.

    “It’s like in Japan. The bigger, the more dramatic, the better,” added Thompson. “And when you look at the 135ers, they’re just not big and dramatic. You can try to be dramatic, but people aren’t gonna take you serious, like Cejudo, it comes off super cringe when you got somebody doing that. But you get somebody around 170 and up, especially at heavyweight, (it’s different)… That’s why in Japan there was only one weight class, that was it, heavyweight. When you fought K1, it was all heavyweight. It’s big, dramatic, flares, you know; people wanna see that.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYfIAAjvtHV/

    While it’s seemingly unlikely we’ll see Cejudo challenging for featherweight gold in his first fight back, all signs point towards the 34-year-old targeting a return to the Octagon in 2022.

    If he can make a successful comeback and perhaps regain the bantamweight title he vacated in 2020, perhaps a super fight against whoever sits on the 145-pound throne at that time will be possible.

    Do you agree with Stephen Thompson? Is Henry Cejudo not a bigger draw because of his size?

  • Dana White Now Open To Cejudo vs. Volkanovski Superfight

    UFC President Dana White might be interested in a fight between Henry Cejudo and Alexander Volkanovski, that is if it can happen.

    White mentioned the fight during a live Q&A session on Wednesday. This came when he was asked by a viewer about “superfights” he would be open to making in 2022. Along with a fight between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, he mentioned a series of matchups that would see retired Cejudo face champions.

    “Well, we just had Henry Cejudo talking about coming back. If he really wants to come back, there’s a process that he has to go through, which includes getting back in the USADA pool. And if that’s really the fight he wants, he wants to come back and fight either Petr Yan, or Aljamain Sterling, whoever is the champion, or something crazy like jumping up a weight class and really taking on Alexander Volkanovski,” said White. “But right here off the top of my head, as far as superfights go, Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, the only other one that comes to mind would be Cejudo (versus) either Yan, Sterling, or Volkanovski.”

    Cejudo Has Proposed Fight Against Volkanovski Before

    Alexander Volkanovski, Henry Cejudo
    Alexander Volkanovski (Image: Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty), Henry Cejudo (Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    Cejudo got the public’s attention earlier this month when he was vocal about wanting to face Volkanovski. This came due to Max Holloway being forced out of a fight against Volkanovski that was set for later this year. He has also called for this fight multiple times in the past. However, UFC eventually landed on The Korean Zombie as the next featherweight title challenger.

    Cejudo has been retired for over a year now. He departed the sport in 2020 after defending his bantamweight belt, stopping Dominick Cruz in the second round of a fight.

    Cejudo has given himself the nickname “Triple C” in recent years. This is because he has a belt at flyweight and bantamweight in the UFC and also earned a gold medal for freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Should he ever find himself in a featherweight title fight, he might have to change his nickname.

    Would you be interested in a fight between Henry Cejudo and Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Archives: Cejudo Doubles Down On Wanting To Fight Figueiredo (2020)

    Henry Cejudo has played a huge part in Deiveson Figueiredo’s preparation ahead of his trilogy fight against Brandon Moreno at UFC 270 tonight. But two years ago, Cejudo wanted to be the man standing across the cage from him, even though he had already vacated the flyweight title. This article from two years ago gives you the breakdown.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 3, 2020, 8:21 PM]

    Headline: Henry Cejudo Doubles Down On Wanting To Fight Deiveson Figueiredo

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Henry Cejudo isn’t playing games when he says he wants to fight Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Cejudo, who holds the UFC bantamweight gold, was thought of to be done with the flyweight division. Cejudo also held the 125-pound title but vacated the gold. Following the conclusion of UFC Norfolk,
    “Triple C” claimed he’d fight the “ugly detached Siamese twins” Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez on the same night.

    Cejudo Takes Further Aim At Figueiredo

    Figueiredo earned a TKO win over Benavidez this past Saturday night (Feb. 29). Had he made weight, he would’ve been the new flyweight champion. Since he did not, the title remains vacant. Speaking to TMZ Sports, Cejudo criticized Figueiredo for not hitting his target (via BJPenn.com).

    “I thought it was unfortunate I thought Figueiredo should have made the weight. It was a bit of a cheat against Joe but he did connect that punch,” he said. “Joe did lose, but Figueiredo did not win.”

    When asked if he truly wants to fight Figueiredo, Cejudo made it clear that he wasn’t kidding.

    “Oh absolutely [I want to fight Figueiredo]. I said it before, I would like to get him and Jose Baldo on the same night,” Cejudo said. “Co-main event and main event. Allow me to make history.”

    Cejudo is set to put his bantamweight championship on the line in two months’ time. He’ll collide with Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 250 on May 9. Cejudo will be in hostile territory as the bout will be contested in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    There was a lot of concern over the future of the flyweight division after UFC Norfolk. In the past, UFC president Dana White admitted he was contemplating what he should do with the men’s 125-pound division. Things are different this time as the UFC boss told reporters that he plans to book the rematch between Figueiredo and Benavidez. Obviously he hopes to avoid seeing another scale fail.

  • White Walks Cejudo & Manager Through How To Properly Request A Fight

    Dana White has given some advice to Henry Cejudo and Ali Abdelaziz on how to get the former flyweight and bantamweight champion a fight.

    After it was revealed Max Holloway was out of his trilogy match against Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight belt, Cejudo was vocal about wanting the fight. However, the UFC showed no interest in the bout and decided to turn to the Korean Zombie instead. This was not the first time Cejudo has teased a comeback or called for a fight against Volkanovski. “Triple C” has been calling out Volkanovski frequently since his decision to retire.

    Now, White has given Cejudo and Abdelaziz some advice on what they should do if Triple C is really serious in wanting to return.

    “The thing is, Cejudo is retired,” White told Yahoo Sports (via MMAFighting). “There’s a way to go about it if you really want to fight, if that’s what you really want to do, you want the Volkanovski fight. What you don’t do is – I mean, you could. You could go online and start talking to Volkanovski and calling him names and all this stuff, but what you’d really have to do is pick up the phone and call and say, ‘Hey, what’s the procedure I need to follow to get back into a fight? I want to unretire and when can I get back into the USADA pool? How fast and what do I need to do?’ That’s how you get a fight.

    “His manager (Ali Abdelaziz) has 280,000 fighters under contract in the UFC, Cejudo’s been here forever,” White continued. “If you really want to fight, get down here and make some calls and say, ‘Hey, what do I need to do to get back in to fight? I want to jump back in.’ That’s how you do it. You don’t call people out and call them names on Twitter and then expect we’re gonna pick up the phone and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got a fight for you!’”

    Henry Cejudo
    Photo via Instagram @henrycejudo

    Henry Cejudo retired following a TKO win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 to defend his bantamweight title for the first and only time. Although he retired, he has continued to talk about returning. Yet, Dana White says he or his manager hasn’t made a serious effort to actually book a fight.

    For White, he makes it clear, if Cejudo is serious about returning, he needs to prove that and not demand a title fight on social media.

    “Then get it done,” White said. “You know how to do it. Have your manager call over here and get the deal done. That’s why I was saying the other night and the media is saying, ‘Well, Henry Cejudo said this and this guy said that,’ – it’s a silly conversation. This is ridiculous to even talk about. You’re asking me about a retired fighter that isn’t anywhere near coming back, to take on Alexander Volkanovski, who is in a different weight class, in a short notice fight. Why are we talking about this? How does this make sense?

    “If you really want to fight, get on the phone with your matchmaker and get the ball rolling.”

    Do you think we will see Henry Cejudo fight again?

  • Cejudo Says UFC Wouldn’t Offer Enough For Him To Fight Volkanovski

    Former two-division UFC Champion Henry Cejudo is frustrated that he didn’t get the call to face Alexander Volkanovski.

    Numerous names floated around earlier this week after Max Holloway pulled out of his title bout against UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski. One of the many was Cejudo, who said he would come out of retirement for the bout.

    The Korean Zombie has since been selected to fight Volkanovski. Cejudo voiced his displeasure in this outcome in a recent interview with MMA Junkie. Part of his anger in the situation comes from how he doesn’t think he would get his fair slice of the profit from a fight.

    “I would be known as C4,” said Cejudo, mentioning a nickname that implies the four championships he has earned between MMA and wrestling. “But you also have to compensate because I’m the person who’s going to sell the fight. I’m the person who is going to make it entertaining, you know? So yeah, I do want my cake and eat it too. I really do. But I also really do deserve it. If I don’t get it, guys, it’s OK. You guys want me to show you my trophy case once again? It’s OK. I got enough of it. Demetrious Johnson’s record was going to be broken. Somebody better than Jon Jones will come.”

    Cejudo: UFC Wants To Pay Me ‘Peanuts’

    Henry Cejudo
    Photo via Instagram @henrycejudo

    It’s not all about Cejudo, though. He later mentioned how he feels the promotion has large issues about properly paying their fighters as a whole.

    “They don’t want to pay, man,” Cejudo said. “It’s plain and simple. They don’t want to pay. Dana [White] doesn’t want to pay. [If] they pay me, they got to pay the rest. And I’m out here. I’m not here to say to start a union. What I’m here to say is like, ‘Hey, man, everybody should be compensated individually.’ The guys are going to sell the fight, the guys that that are proven, like me. You know what I’m saying? So that’s plain and simple. Dana [White] would love to see the fight, but he wants to pay me peanuts in comparison to what I really deserve. I respect the man because it’s his business, what he’s able to do to take this company to a two-billion-dollar company to what it’s worth now seven [to] nine billion and I can’t get a raise. That just seems a little off to me, man.”

    Cejudo went on to mention how fighters who don’t necessarily do the best in the cage are some of the more financially successful competitors. He feels that the promotion should be paying their actual champions more,

    “If Conor McGregor is making money and getting paid, and Jorge Masvidal. They’re doing what they’re doing and they’re getting paid more than me and I got two belts and I’m doing the exact same shit and I’m not getting compensated, then you know what? F*** you, too.”

    Do you agree with Henry Cejudo’s comments on UFC not paying people, himself included, enough?

  • Dana White Explains Why Cejudo Was Not Selected To Replace Holloway

    Henry Cejudo will have to wait if he wants a title shot upon return.

    Dana White hears pleas from fighters all the time. Many times fighters think they deserve a title shot, but White has to be the person to set them straight. This is the case recently with former two-division champion Henry Cejudo.

    Cejudo wanted to return from retirement and step in to face Alexander Volkanovski when Max Holloway pulled out. Instead, the UFC went with Chan Sung Jung as the replacement. White has now explained why that was the road taken.

    “I can tell you this: The ‘Korean Zombie’ has been here fighting,” White told BT Sport. “This guy’s retired. He’s been off for how many years now, and he wants to come in and fight Alexander Volkanovski? You’ve got guys like the Zombie, Josh Emmett, Giga who’s fighting this weekend. You’ve got these guys that are in here doing it three times a year and working their way up. For Cejudo to retire and then just think he should be able to come in and jump into any weight division and take on the champion, it’s not how it works.”

    Cejudo retired from MMA following his last win back in May of 2020. However, since he walked away he has still continued to tease a return. His desire to fight again has been a bit more prevalent recently. Cejudo was interested in a return to bantamweight but has been calling out featherweight champion Volkanovski as well. Cejudo was interested in jumping into the title fight with Volkanovski but has never competed in the UFC featherweight division.

    Unlike Cejudo, Jung has been active in the featherweight division and has won three of his last four against top opponents. If Cejudo is serious about a return, the UFC would most likely accept it. However, he might need one fight at 145 pounds against someone in the top five if he is looking for a title shot.

    Do you think Cejudo’s résumé could allow for an immediate title shot?

  • Cejudo: Volkanovski vs. Ortega Is The Greatest Fight In MMA History

    Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo believes the UFC 266 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega is the “greatest fight” in MMA history.

    At the start of one of the most memorable sets of final pay-per-views a year has seen in the UFC, reigning featherweight titleholder Volkanovski met with top contender Ortega in the September 25 headliner. The pair were originally set to clash at UFC 260 six months prior, but a positive COVID-19 test forced the Australian out.

    In the end, the pair coached the 2021 return of The Ultimate Fighter. Whilst it certainly wasn’t the most thrilling season of the show, it did add an extra pinch of animosity and helped build the matchup more heading into their eventual showdown at UFC 266.

    When they did enter the Octagon together, they brought a firework display that is certainly worthy of a spot in the Hall of Fame Fight Wing. Across five rounds, we saw why Volkanovski is unbeaten in the UFC and in his past 20 fights. After five rounds, he successfully defended his title for the second time through a unanimous decision verdict.

    But even in defeat, we saw why “T-City” has a spot among the elite at 145 pounds, with two tight submission attempts in the third round providing one of the most memorable frames in history.

    Cejudo Believes Volkanovski vs. Ortega Had Everything

    In the eyes of many, the UFC 266 main event was certainly a top contender for the Fight of the Year, in the conversation with the likes of Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 42, and Jiří Procházka vs. Dominick Reyes at UFC Vegas 25.

    But while many didn’t have Volkanovski’s one and only defense of 2021 in their top spot for the year, one former UFC champion had it there and more. Cejudo, who held both flyweight and bantamweight gold simultaneously during his UFC career, believes the memorable September five-rounder was not only the FOTY, but the greatest fight in the history of mixed martial arts.

    “The one I really like the most, I’m going to have to go to with Alexander ‘The Average’ (Volkanovski) and Brian Ortega,” Cejudo said on his podcast with The Schmo. “That isn’t, to me in my eyes, the Fight of the Year, but this is the greatest fight in my eyes in mixed martial arts history. It displayed striking, defense, escaping from submissions, takedowns, takedown defense, I mean, it was everywhere.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYXgZgqpeu3/

    Having extended his win streak and featherweight reign with victory over Ortega, Volkanovski is now in need of a next challenger after Max Holloway had to withdraw from their UFC 272 bout.

    As fate would have it, Cejudo, who has been lobbying to fight Volkanovski for several months, has thrown his name into the ring as a potential short-notice replacement. If selected, maybe Cejudo will be the one on the other end of an all-time classic against Volkanovski.

    Do you agree with Henry Cejudo? Is Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega the greatest fight in MMA history?

  • Henry Cejudo: Tyron Woodley Has Made Jake Paul A Star

    Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo believes Tyron Woodley didn’t just lose to Jake Paul but also helped build Paul’s boxing reputation.

    Paul viciously knocked out Woodley in their rematch just days ago, hitting Woodley with a big right hand that dropped him immediately. Paul remains undefeated in his young boxing career after an accomplished time in content creation.

    Paul’s knockout over Woodley is arguably the most impressive of his time in the ring so far. Before the rematch with Woodley, he earned knockouts over former NBA star Nate Robinson and former UFC fighter Ben Askren.

    During a recent podcast episode with The Schmo, Cejudo gave his take on how Woodley’s loss helped grow Paul’s star power.

    “Man, I tell you what. This fight had to be about sleeping until that sixth-round came and it’s unfortunate because Tyron Woodley was actually winning that boring fight,” Cejudo said. “But he happened to just keep those, he just kept that left hand down, and slowly but surely Jake Paul threw that hammer and knocked him out.

    “The fight was boring, the knockout was great. I mean, talk about a complete face plant by Tyron Woodley. Jake Paul, whether we hate him or love him, the dude has taken this by storm and if you really think about it man, Tyron Woodley is making this dude into a star. Made him into a star because of the simple fact that he beat a former UFC champion.” (h/t EssentiallySports)

    This isn’t the first time that Cejudo has appeared to take a jab at Woodley. He most recently gave Woodley the title of the second-most cringy MMA fighter behind himself.

    It’s Unclear What Could Be Next For Tyron Woodley’s Career

    Despite the loss to Paul, Woodley seemed optimistic about his fighting future. Leading up to the rematch, Woodley had made his plans clear that he wants to have multiple MMA and boxing fights in 2022.

    Woodley had been rumored to be in fight camp to take on former UFC fighter Dan Hardy in the new year before the Paul rematch came up. That could be a possible matchup for his return to the ring.

    As for Paul, his stock continues to grow in the sport, and one could make the argument that Woodley is directly responsible for making that happen.

    Do you agree with Henry Cejudo’s comments about Tyron Woodley?

  • Henry Cejudo: Khamzat Chimaev Would Destroy Colby Covington

    Henry Cejudo thinks that Khamzat Chimeav would give Colby Covington a run for his money and then some.

    Henry Cejudo was one of the most successful fighters in the UFC when he was actively fighting. Having won two titles in two different divisions, Cejudo was a master of his craft. Now that he is retired, he is actively helping other fighters find the type of success he had during his reign.

    Taking a look now at the welterweight division, Cejudo had some assessments for the athletes at 170 pounds, in particular, Khamzat Chimeav.

    Henry Cejudo Heaps High Praise On Khamzat Chimaev

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev

    Cejudo, like many people, is a big fan of Chimaev and what he has been able to do in his four fights with the UFC. Cejudo believes Chimaev would easily beat almost any man in the UFC welterweight division, and he spoke a bit about this on The Triple C & Schmo Show.

    “I am super high on that dude,” Cejudo said. “I believe that he would destroy Colby [Covington]. I believe that he would destroy the majority of the people at 170 pounds. The only one that can beat Chimaev is Kamaru Usman. But I think everybody else, I think he takes to school. No joke.”

    Chimaev has been calling for a fight with a ranked opponent. He had been turned down by a few people, including Nate Diaz. However, now it seems there is rising interest coming from a few top ten fighters. Most recently, Belal Muhammad expressed interest in stopping the hype train that is Chimaev. Also, Neil Magny has repeatedly challenged Chimaev.

    “I think Chimaev at 185 pounds, especially against a style like Stylebender, I think it’s an easy fight for him,” Cejudo said. “He’s big, he’s nasty, he’s ferocious. When people praise and talk about wrestling like he does, it just makes you dangerous. He’s gonna get on top of you, Khabib style, and he’s gonna hurt you. Chimaev is dangerous and I understand why nobody in the 170-pound weight division wants to fight the damn man.”

    Chimaev has four straight wins in the UFC so far. He has stopped each of these four opponents in less than two rounds. It is no wonder why many people, Cejudo included, think Chimaev has what it takes to make a run at the title.

    Cejudo has seen some great fighters up close during his career, including having taken down one of the greats Demetrious Johnson. Now, Cejudo gets to see greatness on a daily basis as he is helping to train some of the best in the sport, including Jon Jones and Weili Zhang.

    Do you think Khamzat Chimaev would defeat Colby Covington if they faced off now?

  • Henry Cejudo Slams “Mr. King Of The Prelims” Dominick Cruz

    Henry Cejudo is still giving the bantamweight division a hard time, even from retirement.

    The self-proclaimed “King of Cringe” Henry Cejudo is no longer active in the UFC, but that hasn’t stopped him from actively calling out fighters. Cejudo decided to retire from MMA after winning two UFC titles. Now, even though he is on the sidelines, he is still bashing current fighters. His latest target is Dominick Cruz.

    Cejudo took to slamming Cruz following his UFC 269 win. Cruz has mentioned interest in facing Cejudo again after he lost via TKO to the champ back in 2020. Cejudo responded to this call-out on the “The Triple C & Schmo Show.” 

    “Dude, Dominic Cruz, man, take it in the chin just how my knee hit your damn chin,” Cejudo said. (h/t MMA Junkie. “Jesus, man, you absolutely make me sick. This is why we need referees. It’s not like, ‘Oh, let me get beat up, but let me see if these referees, you know, give me the benefit of the doubt.’ Like, no. You put yourself there, you put your face on my knee, and I made you bend the knee. There was 13 unanswered shots. Re-watch it, dude. I literally woke you up.”

    Since the loss to Cejudo, Cruz has won two in a row and is now ranked #7 at bantamweight. As a former champion at 135 pounds, Cruz still holds some clout in the division. He is a legend of the sport and someone fans love to watch.

    Cejudo also took aim at Cruz again on social media recently. He targeted the fact that Cruz’s last two fights were featured on the preliminary portion of the card.

    “Mr. King of the Prelims– Ya snooze, ya lose,” Cejudo wrote. “You had your chance, and you bent those surgically repaired knees. ?? If I decide to come back, I’m fighting @alexvolkanovski first. Triple C ain’t fighting on no damn prelims.”

    Cruz isn’t the only active fighter that Cejudo has been trolling. He is currently looking for a fight with current featherweight champion Alexsander Volkanovski. Cejudo is still training and has been working for two former champions of late, Jon Jones, and Weili Zhang.

    Would you like to see Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz face off again?

  • Dominick Cruz Seeks Rematch With ‘Dork’ Henry Cejudo After UFC 269

    Just minutes after his impressive win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 269, Dominick Cruz had a familiar foe on his mind for his next outing.

    Cruz got out of some early trouble against Munhoz and showcased his elite footwork and striking for the unanimous decision win. It was a vintage Cruz performance in many eyes as he looks to push towards another potential title shot.

    Following his win over Munhoz, Cruz called for a rematch with Cejudo nearly two years after his loss at UFC 249. Cejudo would retire immediately following the fight and has remained inactive ever since.

    “I’d prefer to fight Cejudo again,” Cruz said to reporters following UFC 269. “I needed more time to get going. I don’t want to make excuses, I pushed for that fight. I got five weeks and sparred 10 fights leading up to that fight following my shoulder surgery. With this version of me, it’s a different fight with him. He’s an Olympian, knows how to fight, but still a little dork though.”

    Dominick Cruz Lost Controversially To Henry Cejudo

    Dominick Cruz Henry Cejudo Keith Peterson
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    Cruz fell at UFC 249 via TKO after taking a barrage of hard ground-and-pound strikes from Cejudo. Cruz appeared to be still making an effort to defend himself, but referee Keith Peterson stopped the fight, much to the dismay of the former champion.

    Cejudo has hinted at a potential comeback at either bantamweight or featherweight. He most recently called out Alexander Volkanovski for a featherweight title shot and an opportunity to become a three-division champion.

    If Cejudo ends up coming back and Cruz keeps up his current winning streak, the two could be on a collision course once again in the stacked bantamweight division. For now, it appears that apparent beef between the two former champions doesn’t appear to be fading away anytime soon.

    Would you want to see Dominick Cruz vs. Henry Cejudo 2?