Henry Cejudo is set to retire for the second time this weekend in Las Vegas. His decision to retire again has been met with skepticism since he has returned to fighting multiple times before. Many fans think he might come back again, especially given his recent three-fight losing streak since his 2023 comeback.
Fans were surprised when Cejudo was matched against Peyton Talbot in The Last Dance event, providing a big opportunity for the promising but unranked bantamweight Talbot. Despite his retirement plans, Cejudo has expressed interest in one fight he missed at Triple C, which he might consider adding to his ‘bucket list,’ even if it means shortening his retirement once more.
After defending his flyweight title by beating TJ Dillashaw, Cejudo moved to the bantamweight division, where he’s still competing. There was always speculation that he might face one of the top 125-pound fighters, but that fight never materialized. Cejudo stated in an interview with MMA Fighting that such a fight would justify a return to the UFC. He will be on the same UFC 323 card as Brandon Moreno, a former close friend with whom his relationship deteriorated after Moreno was not picked for Cejudo’s team on The Ultimate Fighter.
Moreno challenged Cejudo to continue fighting after narrowly missing a bantamweight title shot in 2023. Cejudo mentioned in a recent press conference that he hopes to face Moreno on Cinco de Mayo, though he doubts the two will be seated next to one another due to their strained relationship, acknowledging their journey has not had a happy ending.
Cejudo’s coach, Eric Albarracin, believes UFC intentionally stirred the feud between Cejudo and Moreno. Albarracin explained that UFC’s bracket seeding forced Moreno and the top seed Alexandre Pantoja onto opposite teams during The Ultimate Fighter, a move designed to create conflict. Albarracin insists that UFC planned this to pressure Cejudo and Moreno into a rivalry.
Fan Take: This ongoing saga highlights how personal dynamics and promotional strategies intertwine in MMA, adding layers of drama that energize the fanbase. Cejudo’s possible return and confrontation with Moreno could reignite one of the sport’s compelling rivalries, potentially elevating bantamweight competition and fan interest at UFC 323 and beyond.
