Eric Albarracin says the most likely options for UFC flyweight champ Henry Cejudo are now a vacant bantamweight title bout vs. Marlon Moraes and a 125-pound title defense vs. Joseph Benavidez.
Henry Cejudo’s head coach said T.J. Dillashaw’s positive drug test changes things up for the current flyweight champ.
Eric Albarracin said he was disappointed to learn that an “adverse finding” was found in a Dillashaw drug sample in relation to Dillashaw’s January loss to Cejudo at UFC Brooklyn. Dillashaw announced the news on social media Wednesday morning and said he planned to relinquish the UFC bantamweight title.
“This sucks,” Albarracin wrote in a written statement sent to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “Henry wanted that rivalry/money fight and the 135-pound belt and to shut the critics up once and for all. It made sense. I hope it was a mistake or contamination for his sake because that’s a hell of drop from glory, from chasing the pound-for-pound status with two belts to losing it all.”
Before Dillashaw’s positive test, the plan was to book him in a rematch against Cejudo, the current UFC flyweight champ — but this time at bantamweight for Dillashaw’s title. Cejudo knocked out Dillashaw in his first 125-pound title defense. Dillashaw attempted to become the fourth fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously, and Cejudo wanted to have that same opportunity if they were to have a rematch.
As for what’s next for Cejudo, who won the flyweight title with an August upset of Demetrious Johnson, Albarracin isn’t too sure. The coach said the two most likely options are a vacant 135-pound title fight against Marlon Moraes and a flyweight title defense opposite Joseph Benavidez.
“This throws a wrench in our plans. It’s early and haven’t spoke with Henry yet,” Albarracin wrote. “However if I know Henry, he still wants that belt, because he is chasing a legacy, or Joe Benavidez might get served up a cold plate of Aztec Warrior revenge. Whoever it is be prepared for an even better version of Henry than his last outing.”
Dillashaw was suspended one year and fined $10,000 by the New York State Athletic Commission Monday morning. He is still facing sanctions from USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner.