Henry Cejudo is on the verge of possibly making his final walk into the UFC octagon. The former Olympic champion and two-division UFC titleholder is set to face top bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili on the main card of UFC 298, scheduled for February 17.
This marks Cejudo’s second UFC appearance since coming out of retirement in 2023. In his previous bout, he experienced a setback, losing a split decision to Aljamain Sterling in his attempt to reclaim the title.
Acknowledging the challenges he faces, Cejudo emphasized the significance of this upcoming fight, describing it as a battle for the No. 1 contender spot. He admitted that another defeat could lead him to consider stepping away from the sport.
Cejudo, now 36, highlighted the demanding nature of the sport, especially with training camps and family commitments, stating, “It’s all or nothing, man.”
Cejudo’s storied UFC career includes winning his first title in August 2018 with a shocking upset over flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
After defending the belt with a 32-second knockout of T.J. Dillashaw, Cejudo moved up in weight and secured a second title by knocking out Marlon Moraes in June 2019 to claim bantamweight gold. He retired from MMA a year later following a successful bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.
After teasing a potential comeback for years, Cejudo ended his three-year layoff by challenging Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. Now, he faces the challenge of halting the momentum of Dvalishvili, who boasts a remarkable nine-fight win streak in the division.
The winner of this bout is likely to position themselves for a shot at the victor of the UFC 299 title rematch between bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera.
Cejudo revealed that his motivation for returning to the sport is driven by a desire for vengeance rather than just the love of the game.
He explained that while he wanted to test himself against Sterling after the extended hiatus, financial compensation played a significant role in his decision, stating, “There’s nothing easier to make money than the fight game.”
UFC 298 is scheduled to take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, with the main event featuring UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending his title against the undefeated Ilia Topuria.
