“I’m the hitman. The UFC brought me back to take this guy out. I’m not going to mention the official, but I got a phone call from a UFC official…It’s time to make the bantamweight division great again.” Nearly two years ago, Henry Cejudo emerged from a three-year “retirement” with championship aspirations intact. The former two-division UFC titleholder—who famously walked away after defending his bantamweight crown against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in 2020—announced his return with characteristic confidence, targeting then-champion Aljamain Sterling as his first stepping stone in what he dubbed the “second chapter” of his illustrious career.
When Cejudo hung up his gloves in 2020, he departed on the highest of notes with gold draped across both shoulders. ‘Triple C’ had conquered two divisions, earned Olympic gold in wrestling, and seemed poised to cement his legacy as one of combat sports’ greatest competitors. However, the former champ-champ’s comeback campaign has yielded nothing but disappointment. What began as a quest to reclaim bantamweight supremacy has deteriorated into a three-fight losing streak that threatens to tarnish his once-sterling legacy.
First came the narrow decision loss to Sterling, followed by a decisive defeat to the current division juggernaut Merab Dvalishvili. The final blow to Cejudo’s comeback hopes arrived at UFC Fight Night 252, where rising Chinese standout Song Yadong handed the former champion his third consecutive defeat. The Seattle bout proved particularly contentious after an eye poke from Yadong left Cejudo with diplopia and a corneal abrasion in the third round. Despite the clear foul, Cejudo’s protest fell on deaf ears as Yadong walked away with the victory.
‘Triple C’ even requested a rematch but remained respectful toward Yadong. He stated, “You did not win this fight, and I did not lose.” This statement divided the MMA world, with some siding with Cejudo, while others considered Yadong’s win legitimate. So, what do experts think about this situation? UFC veterans Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen recently discussed it on their ESPN-powered podcast Good Guy/Bad Guy. ‘The Bad Guy’ didn’t hold back, urging the American to “move on” and accusing him of “playing the game” by making excuses for his loss to Song Yadong.
“I’m essentially accusing possibly the greatest combat athlete of cheating. That is just so unlike Henry. I mean, truly, so unlike Henry in the way that he did play it. This is a guy who walked through fire many times. This is a guy who walked through fire at 20 years old to become an Olympic Champion. It didn’t seem like he was willing to walk through fire this night,” Chael Sonnen gave his blunt verdict.
May 4, 2023, Newark, NJ, NEWARK, NJ, United States: Newark NJ – May 4: Henry Cejudo speaks to the press and the fans at UFC288 – Sterling vs Cejudo – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at Prudential Center on May 4, 2023 in Newark, NJ Newark, NJ United States – ZUMAp175 20230504_zsa_p175_014 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
Sonnen’s words aren’t without merit. Henry Cejudo was once a dominant force in the UFC, carving his name into the promotion’s history after an illustrious wrestling career that included a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In MMA, Cejudo’s journey before his 2020 retirement was equally impressive.
Even after stepping away, he stayed deeply involved in the sport, maintaining his fitness, getting married, having two children, and even supporting Donald Trump’s rallies in 2020. Despite his recent struggles, the former two-division champion still sees a glimmer of hope.
Henry Cejudo finally speaks on his retirement after his loss at UFC Seattle
What is the toughest decision an MMA fighter must make in their career, aside from enduring punches and brutal battles? It’s the moment they have to walk away from the sport. Retirement is an inevitable reality that every athlete, whether in MMA or any other field, must eventually come to terms with. In a sport that demands speed, power, and mental resilience, the wear and tear on a fighter’s body is relentless. While recovery plays a crucial role, time slows even the best, forcing them to confront the harsh truth of stepping aside.
Recently, this reality hit lightweight legend Tony Ferguson, who ultimately parted ways with the UFC after years of struggles. Today, several fighters are approaching the final chapters of their careers, including former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who is currently on a three-fight losing streak. However, MMA has also produced inspiring stories of perseverance, like Glover Teixeira, who won a championship well past the age of 40.
Amid this landscape, Henry Cejudo finds himself at a crossroads—battling self-doubt and facing criticism for his comeback attempt while others opt for retirement. Yet, the American remains unfazed. Before his fight against Song Yadong, he addressed the retirement speculation, saying:
“There’s been a lot of people—I mean, this is the UFC, man. A lot of people have gone through skids and have been able to bounce back and actually do some great things, like Charles Oliveira. You know the ability is there. It’s just time to prove it once again, get back on the horse, and continue to keep trotting and riding.”
Now, after suffering his third consecutive loss, the spotlight is firmly on Henry Cejudo. Will the former two-division champion finally call it quits, having already secured his place in MMA history? Or will he attempt to prolong his career, potentially putting his legacy at risk? Share your thoughts below!
The post Chael Sonnen Claims Henry Cejudo Was Not ‘Willing To Walk Through Fire’ After Controversial Eye-Poke From Song Yadong appeared first on EssentiallySports.
