Henry Cejudo isn’t giving up on his UFC dream just yet.
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist, who withdrew from his scheduled UFC debut last Friday in Sacramento, Calif., due to medical issues related to his weight cut, has accepted the UFC’s offer to move up to bantamweight, according to his manager Bill McFarlane. After Cejudo failed to make the 126-pound flyweight limit 24 hours before UFC 177, UFC president Dana White told the media that Cejudo had two options: either compete at bantamweight in his next UFC fight or get released from the organization.
“Henry is absolutely interested in competing in the UFC and will be happy to move to 135 pounds,” McFarlane said.
Friday’s mishap marked the third time in less than a year that Cejudo failed to make weight prior to a fight.
According to McFarlane, Cejudo arrived in Sacramento early last week weighing 137 pounds. By early Friday morning, he was down to 130 pounds, however, he then started to suffer from nausea and cramping. After meeting with doctors and UFC officials, the decision was made to not fight at UFC 177 against Scott Jorgensen on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Cejudo, who won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling at 121.5 pounds in 2008, is 6-0 since making his pro MMA debut in March 2013.