Henry Cejudo is at a crossroads. The former UFC two-division champion is taking his time, weighing his options, and contemplating his future in the sport he once dominated. But let's be clear—Cejudo isn't rushing into anything. After all, the 36-year-old has a lot on his plate, and making the right decision is crucial. With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Cejudo is caught between the desire to compete again and the need to fully heal from a nagging injury that's been slowing him down.
It’s been six months since Cejudo last stepped into the Octagon, where he faced Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 in a title eliminator. The result wasn’t what Cejudo had hoped for—he lost via unanimous decision. Since then, life outside the cage has kept him busy. Cejudo has embraced fatherhood, relished being a spectator at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and played a pivotal role as a figurehead for the rising MMA promotion, United Fight League, which is set to make a return on August 30th.
But despite all these distractions, the competitive fire in Cejudo hasn’t dimmed. He’s itching to get back into the Octagon, to throw punches, and to execute those takedowns in front of a roaring crowd. However, there's a caveat—an injury that's been nagging him for a while now. “I’ve been icing an injury now for quite some time,” Cejudo shared in an interview with MMA Junkie. “I want to make sure that I’m 100 percent. I’m getting back into training... It’s just allowing this injury to freaking heal.”
In typical Cejudo fashion, he’s candid about the reality of dealing with this setback. “Father Time is real, dude. I can finally admit it,” he said, acknowledging that age is catching up with him. But this time, he’s determined not to rush his recovery. He’s learned his lesson from the past, especially after fighting with a torn groin in his last bout. “Could I fight? I could. But am I going to do the same thing I did in my last fight to fight with a torn groin? I’m not going to do that no more. I think I learned my lesson and that’s it.”
Now, as he allows his body to heal, Cejudo is carefully considering his next move. After a three-year hiatus that began in 2020, he made a comeback in 2023, only to suffer consecutive losses to Aljamain Sterling and Dvalishvili. These setbacks have led Cejudo to ponder whether a return to the division he once dominated—flyweight—might be the right path. “There could be a potential return at flyweight,” Cejudo revealed. “These are a lot of things I’m contemplating, potentially going back down.”
The idea of dropping back down to 125 pounds has Cejudo intrigued, especially given the current state of the bantamweight division. With new talent emerging and the division heating up, Cejudo is contemplating whether a move to flyweight could be his ticket to reclaiming gold. “With the bantamweight division getting hot and with the newcomers coming in, there’s been a lot of thought of me going back down and getting a fight with Moreno and winning the belt once again. There’s a lot of cool stuff.”
But if Cejudo does decide to make the cut to flyweight, it won’t be a rushed decision. He’s clear that this move would require a level of discipline and commitment that he hasn’t had to muster in a while. “If it’s something that I do decide to do, the biggest thing for me is going to be discipline and taking myself back there once again. It is the weight cut,” Cejudo explained. “But at the same time, I’ve been thinking about it. It’s what I need. Maybe I need more discipline.”
Cutting weight has never been fun for Cejudo, and he’s the first to admit it. “I hated making that weight. I’m also wiser and smarter right now,” he said, reflecting on the challenges that lie ahead. But he’s also considering how to approach this process differently, with a more scientific and methodical approach. “How’s it that I could do it and do it in the best scientific way while feeling good and spice things up? Like I said, it’s an idea that’s just floating around.”
One thing’s for sure: if Cejudo decides to make this move, he’s going to do it right. “If I do decide to go down to 125 pounds, it’s going to be a six-month process. It’s going to be a six-month process and I’m going to do it right,” he emphasized. The prospect of a return to flyweight is exciting, not just for Cejudo, but for fans and the division as a whole. “I think there’s a lot of fun matchups and to ruffle some feathers. Why not? Those flyweights need it.”
While flyweight is on the table, Cejudo hasn’t ruled out staying at bantamweight. In fact, he’s got his eyes on some potential matchups and is already making predictions. “This is my prediction,” Cejudo said confidently. “Merab Dvalishvili is going to stop Sean O’Malley at the Sphere... He’s going to beat him but once Umar comes in, he’s just going to have his way with Merab. Umar is really good, really technical.”
Cejudo’s mind is also on other big names in the bantamweight division. “Deiveson Figueiredo is going to fight a guy like Petr Yan, which is a fight I wanted. These guys are chasing Deiveson Figueiredo, so where does that leave me, man? Am I going to fight just to fight? Or am I going to chase something?”
For Cejudo, it’s not just about getting back in the cage—it’s about pursuing gold. “I’m after gold now. I think if I do go down to 125 pounds and stay disciplined, I don’t think there’s anyone that can beat me. Plus, I think there’s a fun fight with Brandon Moreno,” he mused. Cejudo clearly hasn’t forgotten the unfinished business between him and Moreno. “He wanted to fight me at 135 and then he backed out like a little b*tch. Now, I think if I go down and I beat him in Mexico, in his own country, I think that could be a big-ass payday too.”
Ultimately, whether Cejudo chooses to return to flyweight or stay at bantamweight, one thing is clear: he’s not interested in just fighting for the sake of fighting. He’s in it to win it, to chase titles, and to solidify his legacy. “I don’t want to be fighting people just to fight people,” Cejudo said. “I want to get close to that belt. I think that’s the position that I fall in right now.”
As Cejudo continues to heal and weigh his options, fans can only wait and see what the former champ will decide. But one thing’s for sure—whatever move Cejudo makes next, it’s bound to be calculated, disciplined, and, as always, aimed at the top.
Login