Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship champ-champ Henry
Cejudo does not plan on coming back any time soon, but he will
be ready if needed. Eight months after knocking out Dominick
Cruz and hanging up his gloves, Cejudo is enjoying his vacation
on the paradisiac Natal, in northeast Brazil. This area is the
homeland of teammate and Bellator MMA double champion Patricio
Freire.
Last Tuesday, Cejudo interrupted his vacation to participate in the
Combate podcast
“Mundo da Luta.” Speaking in impressive Portuguese, the Olympic
champion confirmed that he has no immediate plans to return, but
did not close the door entirely to competition.
“Dana White knows my number,” Cejudo said. “I’m here in Natal
enjoying my vacation, but trained yesterday with Pitbull brothers.
If Uncle Dana needs me for next week, I’ll be ready.”
Cejudo especially loved to hear that flyweight champ Deiveson
Figueiredo suggested to fight him at the bantamweight
division.
“As I said, I was born ready,” Cejudo guaranteed. “This guy has to
understand that he is holding this belt because I gave this gift to
him. If I were in UFC, he would be painting women’s hair and nail
as he used to. He is the nanny of my belt.”
When asked if he would still have any interest in returning to face
off against UFC legend Jose Aldo,
Cejudo was not as keen on the prospect as he had been in the
past.
“Aldo is too old,” Cejudo admitted. “Actually, he should have
already retired. He wouldn’t last two rounds with me.”
All the while, Cejudo did confirm the possibility of fighting in a
third division.
“I want to be the first fighter to make history being a
three-division champion.”
“The Messenger” also mentioned that while he would love to become a
champ in three weight classes, he was not necessarily the best.
Instead, he believes Freire is the best pound-for-pound fighter in
the sport.
“[Friere] could win both featherweight and lightweight titles in
[the] UFC,” Cejudo claimed.
While Cejudo believed that his second match against Demetrious
Johnson was the most important fight of his MMA career, it was
not his most difficult obstacle to overcome.
“No doubt my Olympic gold,” Cejudo replied when asked of his
greatest career challenge. “In MMA, you have a long time to prepare
against one tough opponent. In an Olympic Wrestling competition,
you find out who will be your opponent on the day of the event, and
you have to beat many of the best in the world [on] the same
day.”
“Definitely was the toughest challenge of my life,” Cejudo
concluded.
