Henry Cejudo, a former Featherweight and Lightweight champion, says that a loss at UFC 298 would be the final nail in his MMA career. According to him, it’s “gold or bust” this time around.
Cejudo, the only person to ever win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship, is one of the most storied fighters of his generation. He became the youngest American gold medalist in wrestling at age 21 and parlayed that success into a fruitful MMA career.
The rising star won the Flyweight belt from Demetrius “Mighty Mouse” Johnson at UFC 227 before winning the vacated Bantamweight belt less than 12 months later against Marlon Moraes. He is only the fourth person to hold two UFC belts simultaneously.
Cejudo announced his retirement from the sport in late 2020, but after three years off, the future UFC Hall of Famer got an itch to get back into the octagon. Dana White didn’t take long scheduling a fight, pitting Cejudo against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298. But, depending on the result, this may be his real final bout.
Henry Cejudo promises retirement with loss at UFC 298
During the UFC 298 press conference, the former double champ made it clear how much this matchup means to him, even promising to retire if he doesn’t claim victory against Dvalishvili.
“A win over Merab, and then get the winner out of Chito [Vera] and Sean [O’Malley]. I want whoever has the belt at 145 pounds,” Cejudo said. “I feel like with my accolades and the merit that I’ve been able to do in combat sports, I don’t think you can deny me.”
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"It's either gold or bust. I either win it all, or I'm not going to have it all and I'm out. I'm done."Henry Cejudo confirms he will retire from MMA (again) with a #UFC298 loss to Merab Dvalishvili. pic.twitter.com/KLffNKXGKa
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 14, 2024
“And to top all that off, this is all or nothing. It’s either gold or bust. Like I either win it all or I’m not going to have it all, and I’m out. I’m done,” Cejudo remarked with sincerity.
He continued, “I am putting that timeline and that pressure on me because I take this sport seriously. I’ve done everything there is to do. What do I got to prove?”
Cejudo’s first fight in over three years comes in Anaheim, California, this weekend against Merab Dvalishvili. To make good on his promise of winning the 145-pound belt, Triple C must come away victorious at UFC 298.
Otherwise, it could be the end for Henry Cejudo. At age 37, and after a lengthy hiatus, he’s running out of time to pull off another title run before hanging the gloves up. And he knows it.