The world of combat sports is extremely fickle. In lieu, recency bias and macro factors are given precedence. While that ideally wouldn’t be an issue in a sport that is constantly evolving, it does hinder the reputation of the greats that have preceded the current stars.
Former two-weight world champion, Henry Cejudo is the exemplar of this statement. Cejudo arrived in the UFC in 2014, and although the formative years of his UFC career had a couple of miscues, the Mexican American eventually overcame the odds.
He attained the pinnacle of the sport in 2018 when he outperformed Demetrius Johnson to capture the flyweight championship, etching his name into mixed martial arts history.
Cejudo would then go on to bail out the 125 lbs division from being extracted from the UFC, when he eclipsed former two-time UFC Bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw in a rapid manner, defending his title.
Within the following year and a half, Cejudo would attain ‘Double Champion’ status. When he reigned supreme over Marlon Moraes for the 135 lbs championship, in the aftermath of Dillashaw vacating his title, due to being caught using a performance-enhancing substance called EPO.
However, Cejudo left the MMA community awestruck when he abruptly retired in 2019, following a third-round knockout victory over former UFC Bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz.
Why did Henry Cejudo retire?
It’s common knowledge by now that fighter pay has been a longstanding complication within MMA. To put into perspective, a sport such as boxing, which is nearing its collapse due to the politics present, is able to handsomely reward their assets, in the regions of millions.
In contrast, a UFC champion is paid a mere half a million or less/more to show for the fights depending on their valuation. Cejudo who had been campaigning for enhanced pay eventually succumbed to their reluctance.
The 35-year-old believed there was no room for negotiations, and opted for the only choice within his control: To retire.
‘Triple C’ placed all his cards on the table, in the hopes that he would then be awarded a fair and just remuneration package, which would have rendered his retirement void. However, the UFC moved on.
The landscape of the bantamweight division is currently stagnant, following Aljamin Sterling’s title defense against Dillashaw. Henry Cejudo has now eyed a return, with the timing being impeccable.
The return of Triple C!
Almost three years since his retirement, Henry Cejudo is on course to make a sensational return to the octagon. The Messenger has been preparing, strengthening, and conditioning his body for an inevitable return since 2020.
The 35-year-old achieved all there is to the sport prior to bidding adieu to the sport in 2020. Now at long last, the wrestling virtuoso is set to come out of hibernation to collide in a pivotal contest against Sterling for the 135lbs championship in 2023.
