Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo has made it clear: he’s not going anywhere.
After his return to the cage at UFC 298 over the weekend, ‘Triple C’ faced Merab Dvalishvili, marking his first fight since his loss to Aljamain Sterling almost a year ago. Dvalishvili, eager to secure a title shot, put up a fierce challenge.
Despite a competitive start, Dvalishvili’s dominance in the wrestling department led to a unanimous decision victory over Cejudo, leaving some to speculate about Cejudo’s fighting future.
Before UFC 298, Cejudo had stated that he would retire if he lost. However, he did not make a retirement announcement in the cage, leading to speculation among fans that he might do so on social media. In a recent YouTube video, Cejudo revealed that retirement was not on his immediate agenda.
Reflecting on his loss to Dvalishvili, Cejudo drew parallels to his past experiences, noting that after previous defeats, he had gone on to achieve remarkable success, becoming a UFC champion.
He acknowledged that while he may not replicate that exact journey this time, he couldn’t retire after his performance at UFC 298. For Cejudo, it’s not just about losing; it’s about the manner in which he lost.
“I’m not leaving,” Cejudo emphasized in his YouTube video, recounting his UFC 298 defeat. “Saturday night, it took me a minute. Was it all or nothing for me? Yeah, and I meant it. Or did I? Have I truly been a hypocrite to myself?”
He reflected on his past triumphs, including avenging losses and achieving feats considered unattainable in combat sports. Despite any dislike for his persona, Cejudo asserted that his accomplishments speak for themselves.
While Cejudo accepts the loss, he cannot accept the way it happened. He expressed a desire to rectify the situation and hinted at a determination to continue competing. For Cejudo, the fight isn’t over yet.
