Henry Cejudo makes UFC retirement decision after losing to Aljamain Sterling

08 May 2023 , 14:44

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Henry Cejudo makes UFC retirement decision after losing to Aljamain Sterling

Henry Cejudo has opted against UFC retirement and wants to face Merab Dvalishvili after losing to Aljamain Sterling.

'Triple C' returned to the octagon at the weekend after a lengthy hiatus from the promotion where he challenged bantamweight champion Sterling at UFC 288. Despite having previously reigned as champion in the division, he was unable to return to the pinnacle after falling to a points decision loss.

Many have now questioned whether he will re-enter retirement following the loss, particularly given he has already conquered the division on a previous occasion. However he appears to have allayed any fears he could hang up his gloves again, tweeting: "This s**t is far from over! @danawhite. I want @MerabDvalishvil head on a plate! #UFCBoston."

UFC president White confirmed following the event that the promotion had mapped out a return to the American city, but the date has yet to be revealed. Dvalishvili is on a nine-fight win streak since his maiden two losses when joining the UFC, and will pose a significant threat to Cejudo after back-to-back wins against Jose Aldo and Petr Yan.

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Initially after the fight, the 36-year-old had sounded out retirement while giving credit to his rival, but did insist that there was still fight in him to return to the top. It was close, but Aljamain did his job. He got the victory,” Cejudo said after the fight. “It sucks. I hate losing, but it’s also been three years. I just don’t know where to take it from here.

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"I’m a little confused right now. If I’m not first, I’m last. If I can’t beat Aljo, my biggest goal was to go up to 145 pounds. If I didn’t get the victory over (Aljo), I just don’t know where that puts me. It’s just hard, man. I’m such a f***ing competitor. I don’t think people realize that. To me, it’s all or nothing. If I’m not first, I’m f***ing last I don’t know. I’ve got to lay back. My wife’s pregnant. We’re getting ready to have another kid.

"Even these last two to three months, not being able to give my kid that attention – I’m a good father, man. I love spending time with my kid. I love playing with her. And just cutting weight, not holding her, kind of neglecting her, having my training partners play with her, that’s the stuff that means a lot to me. A lot of you guys don’t give a f**k, but the time with my kid means the world to me, especially the fact that I have another one on the way.”

Ben Davies