UFC 288: Henry Cejudo Seeks to Carve His Name Into History
Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
Henry Cejudo returns to the cage this Saturday, challenging bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in the headline bout of UFC 288.
After retiring three years ago, Cejudo, 36, quickly realized his competitive fire was still burning. With goals left to pursue in MMA, he is now back, seeking to reclaim the bantamweight title he last defended in May 2020.
“I came back to make history,” says Cejudo. “I came back to put myself on Mt. Rushmore. With this victory, I’m next to Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson and Anderson Silva as the greatest of all time.”
Cejudo (14–4) has a pedigree unlike many others. In addition to reigns as bantamweight and flyweight champ, he also won an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Despite his time away from the cage, he enters this bout oozing confidence.
“Aljamain is going to come out and fight,” says Cejudo. “He’ll try to come out and wrestle, but it doesn’t matter. This has nothing to do with Aljamain. My skill and my will are that much better than him. This is me against me.
“I know what has to be done. I would never have come back if I didn’t believe I was going to win. I’m too much of a competitor to ever let someone beat me. I know what I’m capable of doing. And I’m not coming back to win—I’m coming back to dominate.”
During Cejudo’s short-lived retirement, Sterling (22–3) reached the promised land and won UFC gold. He has defended the belt in impressive fashion, defeating Petr Yan before a one-sided bout against an injured T.J. Dillashaw, and a victory against Cejudo would vault him to an even higher status in the sport.
An intriguing part of this matchup is whether Cejudo’s time away from the cage served as an advantage. He was removed from the USADA testing pool and its protocols, which can be a benefit if someone retires with the intent to return once their body is healthy. When asked whether Cejudo’s time off was a benefit, Sterling said, “It’s hard to answer that one without people saying I’m making an excuse, but it would be naive not to consider it, that Henry would take advantage of an opportunity when he was no longer subjected to any of these protocols.”
Cejudo responded to Sterling’s comment, sharing that his retirement was time needed for himself and his family.
“Is that dude still saying that I took steroids?” says Cejudo. “Is that what he’s saying? It’s been a rejuvenation.
“My wife would prefer me not to fight, to be honest. The motivator is to make history. The financial incentive is for my family. That’s exciting, too.”
Cejudo has been clear about his intentions. He is back to regain the belt and add to an already spectacular fighting portfolio.
“Of course, I always think of accolades,” says Cejudo. “That’s why I’m in it. I’m here to cement myself. I don’t need to come back. That’s how solid my résumé already is. I don’t need to do this. I’m doing it for the challenge, I’m doing it to make history. To me, it’s robbing banks. Aljamain Sterling is easy money. I’m going to prove that on May 6. I’m going to knock his ass out, then I’m going to deposit that check.”
If Cejudo wins the belt Saturday, he already has a first opponent in mind.
“I’ll go with [Sean] O’Malley, then we’ll see,” says Cejudo. “But O’Malley is next.”
The fight world was bereft of a star with Cejudo’s personality over the past three years. Instigating and agitating, poking and prodding, he is back to show he has no equal in the bantamweight division.
“I enjoy this rush,” says Cejudo. “Someone is trying to prove me wrong, and I have to live up to what I’m saying. I love that. The goal is to continue to keep winning championships until the whole world is sick of me.”
Jones-Miocic at MSG?
Jon Jones’s next bout will take place against Stipe Miocic. That does not have an official date, but all signs point to November at Madison Square Garden.
If Jones can successfully defend his heavyweight title against Miocic, only one fight would interest him. In an interview with Fox Sports Australia, Jones stated he plans to retire following the Miocic fight—unless his next opponent is Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou remains a free agent. A hefty price tag has deterred ONE Championship, Bellator and PFL from signing the incredibly talented heavyweight. But there is no denying that pitting him against Jones would be a massive bout, especially considering that Ngannou was never defeated as champion and left UFC with the belt.
Jones was also asked about Sergei Pavlovich. In pragmatic fashion, he referred to that bout as “high risk, low reward.” Pavlovich is a beast in the cage, but Jones noted he lacks the star power to make that fight happen—unless, of course, the price tag is right. But ultimately, that is not the fight to make. The one necessary is Jones against Ngannou.
The longer Ngannou remains a free agent, the more likely it is he will return to the UFC.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.