Henry Cejudo

Henry Carlos Cejudo (born February 9, 1987) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler. He is the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight Champion and Bantamweight Champion. He is the fourth UFC fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, and the second to defend titles in two different weight divisions. He is the only person to win an Olympic gold medal and win a UFC title. He is considered to be among the greatest combat sports athletes of all time, due to his accomplishments in MMA and freestyle wrestling.
During his wrestling career, Cejudo, who competed at 55 kilograms, most notably became the youngest American Olympic Gold medalist in wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics at age 21 (record later broken by Kyle Snyder, 20, in 2016) and was also the 2007 Pan American Games champion, as well as a multiple–time Pan American Continental and US National champion.
On May 9, 2020, Cejudo successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title by TKO over Dominick Cruz in the second round. He announced his retirement from professional fighting immediately after the fight, although there was widespread speculation that the retirement would be temporary.
Background.
Born to Mexican immigrants Jorge Cejudo and Nelly Rico in Los Angeles, California, Henry Cejudo is the second youngest child of the family. As a result of his violent father's drug and alcohol abuse, Cejudo's family constantly moved around the Los Angeles area.
Four-year old Henry and the rest of the children with her, Nelly fled to New Mexico before Jorge – who was jailed after threatening to kill his whole family and subsequently getting into an altercation in the street – was released. Jorge was deported when Cejudo was 6 years old and died when Cejudo was about 20 years old. After a couple of years in New Mexico, the family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. In Phoenix, the family lived in Maryvale in poverty despite their mother working multiple jobs to make the ends meet.
Cejudo also never slept alone in his own bed until he was provided one by U.S.A. Wrestling while participating in a residency program at the U.S. Olympic training facility. Henry also started competing as an amateur boxer, and won the annual state Copper Gloves boxing tournament in 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cejudo enrolled at Grand Canyon University in 2010 and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Theology.
Wrestling career.
Early career.
Inspired by his older brother Angel Cejudo, who was an undefeated four-time AIA state champion with a record of 150 wins and zero defeats, Henry also became a four-timer. His freshman and sophomore year titles were won in Arizona, before he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to become a resident athlete at the United States Olympic Training Center. He won the Colorado state championships (CHSAA) as a junior and senior, and was named ASICS National High School Wrestler of the Year in 2006. In the same year, he was selected in the USA Wrestling Magazine's Dream Team of High School All-Americans.
In 2006, while still in high school, Cejudo won the Fargo National title in freestyle. Soon after his victory, he began full-time training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, he prepared for the Junior World Championships; after a fifth-place finish in 2005, Cejudo was able to claim the silver medal for the United States of America. He opted to pursue an international career rather than competing in college.
Senior level.
2005-2007.
Cejudo made his senior level debut on October 23, 2005 at the Sunkist Open, at the age of 18. He earned notable victories over NCAA champion Jason Powell and three-time All-American Tanner Gardner before finishing fifth. On April 15, 2006, he won the US National Championship at 55 kilograms, qualifying for the US World Team Trials and becoming the first high schooler to do so since the organization (USAW) was established as the sport's governing body in 1983. At the WTT, he defeated an eventual accomplished wrestler in Franklin Gómez in the opening match of the Challenge Tournament before making it to the best-of-three finals. There, he was downed twice by the 00' Olympic Silver medalist and 98' World Champion Sammie Henson, losing the spot. He quickly bounced back a week later with a Pan American title. In his last competition of the year, Cejudo took part of the Sunkist Open, where he lost in the second round.
On March 22, 2007, he captured a bronze medal at the World Cup. In April 7, he claimed his second US National title while compiling wins over collegiate and international standout Nick Simmons and two-time All-American Vic Moreno. On May 18, he earned his second Pan American title. Cejudo then made the US World Team after two straight wins over Matt Azevedo. Before the World Championships, he warmed up with a Pan American Games title. At the World's, he was taken out in the opening round by Uzbekistan's Erkin Tadzhimetov and placed 31st.
2008.
Cejudo started off the most successful year of his freestyle career in March 2, with a Pan American title. He failed to secure his third consecutive US National title after he was pinned by Matt Azevedo, not before defeating recent All-American Obe Blanc. At the US Olympic Team Trials, he started off by comfortably downing two opponents to make it to the best-of-three. There, he had a rough series with 04' Olympic Silver medalist and defending Olympic Teamer Stephen Abas, whom he went 2–1 with, earning the US Olympic Team spot.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Cejudo opened up with a win over Radoslav Velikov, the 06' World Champion; after losing the first period 0–1, he bounced back with 3-2 and 4-3 periods. In the next round, he faced Besarion Gochashvili from Georgia; the same results as his opening bout popped up, after losing the first period 1–3, he came back with scores of 3-2 and 3–0 to defeat Gochashvili. He then wrestled Azerbaijan's Namig Sevdimov, whom he took out after once again, losing the first period (3-5) and winning the next two (3-2, 4-3). In the finale, he met Tomohiro Matsunaga, a Japanese athlete who was coming fresh off an Asian title; he won the first period after scoring the biggest move and won the second period after a comfortable 3–0 score. This made Cejudo the youngest American to win Olympic Gold in wrestling history at age 21 (record was later broken by Kyle Snyder, 20, in 2016). He then took a break from his freestyle wrestling career.
2011-2012.
After announcing that he would try to make a second Olympic run in 2010, Cejudo made his comeback at the 2011 Beat the Streets charity event, where he beat Rasul Mashezov 2-0 and 4–3.
In his first tournament since his lay-off, Cejudo claimed a Sunkist Open title after compiling four victories, on October 28, 2011. On November 26, 2011, he earned a silver medal from the Henri Deglane Challenge, after being defeated in the finals by Ghenadie Tulbea.
At the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, Cejudo downed Obe Blanc before being defeated by the top-seed Nick Simmons, failing to make his second US Olympic Team. After the Simmons match, Cejudo put his shoes in the middle of the mat, signaling his retirement from the sport.
Appearances post-retirement.
While already an undefeated MMA prospect, Cejudo made a brief return to the sport at the "Agon V: Iowa against the World" event by wrestling Tony Ramos (who would go on to win the US Open weeks later) on April 4 of 2015, weeks after his win over Chris Cariaso at UFC 185. Despite riding an 8–2 lead, he was defeated by that year's World Team Member after he scored eight more points of his own, ending the match 8–10.
In June 2018, Cejudo was prestigiously inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Soon after his exhibition match with Ramos, Cejudo flirted with the possibility of making a 2016 Olympic Run, however, his intentions never materialized. After his UFC retirement in May 2020, Cejudo expressed that "I could never see myself coming back (to wrestling)", but that he was interested in visiting his former coach Terry Brands and training with 2020 Dan Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee, which he did in October 2020.
Mixed martial arts career.
Early career.
On January 30, 2013, Cejudo announced on his Twitter page that he planned to begin training for a career in MMA. Despite wrestling at 121 pounds during his wrestling career, Cejudo fought at 135 pounds in his MMA debut. He defeated Michael Poe by TKO due to punches in his MMA debut on March 2, 2013, for the Arizona-based World Fighting Federation.
Over the next year, Cejudo amassed a record of 6–0 with three wins by TKO, one by submission, and two by decision. Prior to signing with the UFC, Cejudo was listed as the #1 ranked bantamweight prospect in the MMA Prospects Report 2013.
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
On July 25, 2014, Cejudo signed with the UFC. He is the third Olympic gold medalist wrestler in company history, after Mark Schultz and Kevin Jackson. Cejudo was expected to face Scott Jorgensen on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177. However, due to medical issues on the day of the weigh-ins, Cejudo was forced out of the bout and the fight was subsequently canceled. In light of this, and his history of missing weight, president Dana White said Cejudo had to move up to bantamweight or leave the UFC.
In his eventual debut, Cejudo faced Dustin Kimura in a bantamweight bout on December 13, 2014, at UFC on Fox 13. Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Chris Cariaso in a flyweight bout on March 14, 2015, at UFC 185. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo faced Chico Camus on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Cejudo was briefly linked to a bout against former title challenger Joseph Benavidez on September 5, 2015, at UFC 191. However, the fight did not take place at the event. In turn, Cejudo faced Jussier Formiga on November 21, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He won the fight by split decision. Brandon Moreno confirmed that he helped Cejudo train for this fight.
On September 16, 2015, Cejudo announced that he would refuse to fight in Nevada after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended and fined Nick Diaz following a failed drug test at UFC 182. Cejudo cited the NSAC's process in determining Diaz's guilt as the reason for the boycott. Despite the lack of change in NSAC procedure, Cejudo ended his Nevada boycott to face UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197 for the Flyweight title. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round, being dropped with a variety of strikes.
In May 2016, the UFC announced that Cejudo would be one of the coaches, opposite Joseph Benavidez on . The pairing faced each other on December 3, 2016, at . Cejudo lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
Cejudo was expected to face Sergio Pettis on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211. However, on May 10, Cejudo pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and the bout was canceled.
Cejudo faced Wilson Reis on September 9, 2017, at UFC 215. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. This win also won Cejudo his first "Performance of the Night" bonus award.
A rescheduled fight with Pettis took place on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision.
Double Champion.
Two years after challenging for the Flyweight title, Cejudo faced Demetrious Johnson in a rematch for UFC Flyweight Championship title in the co-main event at UFC 227 on August 4, 2018. Cejudo went on to win the back-and-forth fight via split decision to become the UFC's second Flyweight champion and first Olympic gold medalist to capture UFC gold. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award. 13 of 25 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Cejudo, while 12 scored it for Johnson.
In November 2018, Cejudo revealed that he had signed a six-fight contract with UFC.
In the first defense of his UFC Flyweight Championship, Cejudo was initially scheduled to face UFC Bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw on January 26, 2019, at UFC 233. However, after that pay-per-view event was canceled, the fight was moved a week earlier to headline UFC Fight Night 143 on January 19, 2019. It was the first title fight to showcase the new UFC legacy belt. Cejudo won the fight via TKO just 32 seconds into the first round to retain his title. The win also earned Cejudo his second "Performance of the Night" bonus award. On 9 April 2019, USADA announced that Dillashaw had tested positive for EPO in pre and post-fight screenings and had been suspended for two years.
Cejudo faced Marlon Moraes on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238 for the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship. He won the fight via TKO in the third round. This win made Cejudo the fourth fighter to hold championships simultaneously in two weight divisions in UFC, and earned him the "Performance of the Night" award. Cejudo became inactive until 2020 due to a shoulder injury.
In December 2019, Cejudo agreed to relinquish the UFC Flyweight title in order to focus on the bantamweight division.
UFC Bantamweight Champion.
Cejudo faced Marlon Moraes on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238 for the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship. He won the fight via TKO in the third round. This win made Cejudo the fourth fighter to hold championships simultaneously in two weight divisions in UFC, and earned him the "Performance of the Night" award. Cejudo became inactive until 2020 due to a shoulder injury.
Cejudo was scheduled to face José Aldo on May 9, 2020 at UFC 250. However, Aldo pulled out on April 8 due to visa issues. Cejudo faced a replacement in Dominick Cruz on May 9, 2020 at UFC 249. 
Cejudo successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title by knocking out Cruz in the second round. Cejudo hit Cruz with a knee to the face that dropped Cruz to the canvas; he then rained punches on Cruz until the referee stopped the fight with 2 seconds remaining in the round.
Retirement controversy.
Immediately after the Cruz fight, Cejudo announced his retirement from professional fighting The announcement was met with some skepticism, as various UFC commentators and fighters stated their opinion that Cejudo was using the announcement as a contract negotiation ploy. Fellow fighter Petr Yan commented that he thought Cejudo was retiring in order to avoid fighting him. Yan and another UFC bantamweight contender, Aljamain Sterling, called on UFC President Dana White to vacate the bantamweight title and allow the pair to fight for it.
Cejudo himself admitted at the post-fight press conference that he would fight again if UFC President Dana White offered him enough money, stating, "He knows the number, but let all these other bantamweights kill each other."
A week later, Cejudo's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, stated in an interview that Cejudo was not retired, and would probably return to fighting in the summer of 2020. On May 24, the UFC officially vacated the bantamweight title and removed Cejudo's name from their rankings.
On June 8, 2020, Cejudo announced that he would be willing to come out of retirement to fight Alexander Volkanovski in order to claim the UFC featherweight championship, which would be his third title in a different weight class.
Other ventures.
Cejudo made an appearance on the May 27, 2020 episode of AEW Dynamite alongside fellow MMA fighters Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort to support Mike Tyson in confronting members of Chris Jericho's Inner Circle. Two months later, Cejudo confirmed he was in talks with AEW about potentially signing a contract, stating that he was also considering competing in amateur wrestling as well.
Cejudo, along with his manager Ali Abdelaziz, fellow fighters Justin Gaethje and Colby Covington, and UFC President Dana White, all appeared at a rally for President Donald Trump in September 2020.
Freestyle record.
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches
! Res.
! Record
! Opponent
! Score
! Date
! Event
! Location 
 Iowa City, Iowa
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
 New York City, New York
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 | 
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 | 
 San Salvador, El Salvador
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 | 
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
! style=background:white colspan=7 |
! style=background:white colspan=7 |