Henry Cejudo concluded his professional career on Saturday night, marking his fourth consecutive defeat. Prior to the fight, Cejudo announced that this would be his final match but ended up losing to Peyton Talbot. Known for his veteran presence in the wrestling world, Cejudo played the role of elevating a rising star as he wrapped up his career.
Despite hinting at a comeback, Cejudo made a significant impact during fight week leading up to his bout with Brandon Moreno at UFC 323. Although it feels like the right moment for “Triple C” to retire, this isn’t the first time he has stepped away from the sport.
Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist, can claim several career highlights including being a former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, as well as one of the few fighters to hold two belts simultaneously.
At UFC 288, Cejudo made a return after a three-year break to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title but was unsuccessful. He initially retired at UFC 249 after a six-fight winning streak, which featured victories over notable fighters like Demetrious Johnson and TJ Dillashaw. Johnson, the only fighter to have faced Cejudo twice, partially attributes Cejudo’s 2023 comeback to his own influence, expressing regret for encouraging him to return.
Despite being a former dual-division champion, Cejudo’s career ended on a challenging note with four straight losses. Johnson reflected on this on his YouTube channel, acknowledging that while the sport offers lucrative opportunities with relatively little preparation, the toll on athletes is real. He added, “Father Time is undefeated.”
Following UFC 323, Johnson expressed that it was clear Cejudo made the right retirement decision after witnessing Peyton Talbot’s quick victory over the Olympic champion in the first round. Johnson humorously noted Talbot’s use of Cejudo’s own inside trip move against him, marking a symbolic end to “Triple C’s” fighting days.
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Fan Take: Henry Cejudo’s retirement marks the end of an era for MMA, particularly for fans who admired his rare achievement of holding two UFC belts simultaneously. His career’s trajectory highlights the harsh realities of aging in combat sports, underscoring the importance of timing when stepping away from the fight game.
